February 17th Game Recap: Wizards vs. Jazz

Jazz Too Much for Wizards

The Wizards had five players score in double figures, but it was not enough as they fell 114-100 to the Jazz on Friday night in Utah.

The team got off to a hot start as they hit their first five shots of the game, but it was not the offense that would be the problem in Utah. The Wizards defense allowed the Jazz to reach 100 points after three quarters and allowed 70 points in the paint for the game. They did do a better job in the second half on the game's leading scorer, Al Jefferson, but his 26 first-half points were too much for the Wizards.

John Wall led the Wizards in scoring with 24 points on 8-12 shooting.

Jordan Crawford did a nice job off the bench adding 21 points and six rebounds.

Jan Vesely played one of his better games of the season and brought a lot of energy off the bench. He had 10 points and five rebounds in the Wizards loss.

For the first time this season, the Wizards will now have two straight off-days before they return to action on Monday night in Phoenix to take on the Suns (9pm).

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Highlights

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Postgame

WIZARDS GUARD JOHN WALL:

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On the difference tonight

“They came out and got everything they wanted. In the first quarter we gave up 11 fastbreak points. They
got whatever they wanted, whenever they wanted. We weren’t getting back, taking tough shots and not
playing any defense. We gave up 100 points in the first three quarters for the first time all year. To give up
100 points in three quarters is unnecessary. It’s tough to win games on the road.”

On if it was frustrating to watch Al Jefferson score
“That’s not frustrating. They did a great job going to their star player. We didn’t do a good job as a team
helping JaVale double team him and making him get the ball out of his hands. We did a better job in the
second half, but in the first half we let him get a rhythm and he did whatever he wanted.”

WIZARDS GUARD JORDAN CRAWFORD:

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WIZARDS FORWARD JAN VESELY:

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WIZARDS HEAD COACH RANDY WITTMAN:

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On Al Jefferson’s play in the first half

“Where he was catching the ball, you couldn’t double him. We didn’t have any fight against him in the first
half. He caught and did whatever he wanted to do with the ball. And we didn’t really seem to let it bother us
in that first half. I coached that guy so I know what he can do and tried to tell JaVale you’ve got to fight.”

On the third quarter run

“Then when you get scrambling around and you have to scramble to get a guy cooled down, they swung it
around and made some shots. We have to do a better job of when a guy gets going, step up to the plate, get
a little pissed off about what’s going on and fight the guy.”