Takeaways: Alex Sarr Shines, but Wizards Fall in 2OT vs. Detroit

With a chance to avenge Monday's loss in Detroit, the Washington Wizards needed two overtimes to potentially end the five game losing streak, but in the end it still wasn't enough.

The Wizards walked out of Capital One Arena with a 144-140 loss against the Pistons in double overtime, extending Washington's losing streak to six games.

Playing from behind for the majority of the game, Washington retook the lead in the opening minutes of the fourth quarter after Bilal Coulibaly, then Trae Young converted at the rim, pushing the Wizards ahead by one and forcing Detroit to call timeout. Yet with six lead changes in the fourth quarter, Trae Young redeemed himself after draining a wild three over two defenders to send the game into overtime.

While Kyshawn George fouled out in the opening minute of overtime, Anthony Davis led the way for the Wizards in the extra period to end the losing streak. Yet the Wizards would ultimately find themselves trailing once more behind a monster game from Cade Cunningham, but it was Duncan Robinson who drilled a two in transition. AJ Dybantsa answered back with a floater in the closing second of the first overtime period.

Three Point Shooting Sparks Fast Start

A fast start sparked an early lead after Alex Sarr, Kyshawn George and Trae Young knocked down threes on consecutive possessions to spearhead a 17-10 lead four minutes into the game. Following a Pistons timeout to try to slow Washington's run, Alex Sarr knocked down his second three of the night to keep the Wizards' perimeter scoring alive.

It marked an encouraging sign after the team shot combined 28% from three point over the last two losses, while entering the night ranked ahead of only the Chicago Bulls across the NBA after shooting just shy of 30% from three through the first 12 games.

Still, the Wizards squandered it as the Pistons grabbed a lead off an and-one to close the quarter, pushing Detroit ahead, 33-32.

Alex Sarr Shines

Anthony Davis was the star that Wizards fans have come to expect on him, eventually fouling out in second overtime after record 30 points and 14 rebounds in the loss. Yet maybe the biggest takeaway of the night was the consistent efficiency from Alex Sarr, who opened the game on the right foot quickly. That started on the offensive end after being part of the barrage of threes in the first quarter en route to making all three attempts from distance and six from the field in the first half, enough to trail only Anthony Davis on the team with 14 points.

He kept it up in the second half after making his first three attempts from the field, finishing a perfect 10-for-10 from the field to record 26 points and seven rebounds in regulation. He finished the game with 30 points and seven rebounds, marking just his second 30-point game and first since March 15, 2024.

Though the Pistons attacked the paint and routinely challenged him at the rim, Sarr was able to make a big play after forcing a shot clock violation on Ausar Thompson midway through the third quarter.

When Does the Streak End?

While Thursday showed more signs of optimism than the previous four games showed, a familiar ending adds to the questions that head coach Brian Keefe is tasked with answering amid the Wizards' slow start. After a two-day break, Washington will host the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies on back-to-back night, two teams off to fast starts and sitting above .500. While a road trip against Chicago without Caleb Wilson looms next Friday, that comes two days after the Wizards travel to Toronto with a chance to avenge the regular season's first loss.

A stretch at Capital One Arena against divisional opponents and the Boston Celtics to close the month also looms. Washington has yet to defeat a team who was .500 at the time of the game, or a team who appeared in the 2026 postseason. Does that change in November? Maybe more importantly, can the Wizards find an answer quickly?