Missed shots and late-game struggles highlight crucial lessons for the Washington Wizards' young core against the Los Angeles Clippers.
Winning isn't easy in the NBA. Any player on the Wizards would likely tell you as much. After a 12-game stretch with seven wins, Washington has lost seven games in a row, with yesterday's heartbreaker to the Clippers being the latest.
Kyshawn George, who has surged as of late, missed a go-ahead three with 10 seconds to go. The look was there, but George's shot came up short.
"We got two great shots," Wizards head coach Brian Keefe said. "Kyshawn got a great shot...he's going to make a bunch of those in his career."
Washington led by as much as ten, but Los Angeles chipped away at the lead late in the third, and utilized a 21-7 run that carried into the fourth to reclaim the lead. Washington found itself in a similar situation on Saturday in Denver, where it held a slight lead late. However, this time, Washington was the one trailing late.
The Wizards have struggled in late-game situations all year, but those moments provide the now-youngest team in the NBA experience they'll need before they can take a real step forward.
"Great lessons the last two games," Keefe said. "There's so many things to learn, so many things you have to execute. These were really invaluable for our guys, and it's great to be in them."
It's another performance where Washington's young core paved the way for a competitive final quarter. The core of Bub Carrington, Tre Johnson, Alex Sarr, and George combined for 78 points.
Still, the fourth quarter reveals room for growth. George went 0/5 in the quarter. Also, Washington failing to block out James Harden, who missed two free throws with 5.9 seconds left, proved to be a critical error.
Sarr had a big night offensively, scoring 28 points on efficient shooting, but last night was a late test for him defensively. Harden is the NBA's 9th-best scorer of all time for a reason. He puts constant pressure on the rim and lives at the free-throw line.
This is where Sarr comes in. As the NBA's leader in blocks, the Wizards hope he brings that aspect late in games for years to come. Hardnen got to the line whenever he wanted, including three separate trips in the final minutes.
"That's what he's learning," Keefe said. "Just having his presence on the floor alone to just deter shots; you can never underestimate how many shots people are not driving because he's down there."
Sarr also showcased his ability to switch and trap -- something Washington's staff has alluded to multiple times as an elite strength of his. Multiple instances in the fourth saw the combination of Sarr and George try, and trap Harden.
Sarr said it's very difficult to contain Harden from getting to the line, but it was a point of emphasis to prevent him from doing so.
"When someone shoots 20 free throws, it's tough to stop," Sarr said.
Carrington provided another solid outing for Washington. He knocked down both of his field goal attempts in the fourth quarter, including a clutch, game-tying three with under a minute to go.
Carrington said he's seen himself grow by realizing his ability on the floor isn't limited to what they once were. He also said reps have been crucial for his development in his role as a facilitator.
"The more I'm in it, the faster I'll get it, and the better I'll be," Carrington said.
Washington didn't come through late, but these lessons become important down the road. There aren't expectations to win now, but that won't last forever. It's important for these young Wizards to fail now and avoid the same mistakes later.