Playoffs 2021

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Wizards Postgame Locker Room - 6/2/21

Scott Brooks Postgame Media Availability - 6/2/21

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Jackson Filyo

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Wizards: Bradley Beal (32), Russell Westbrook (24), Rui Hachimura (21)

Sixers: Seth Curry (30), Tobias Harris (28), Ben Simmons (19)

The Wizards were defeated by the Sixers 129-112 in Game 5 of the teams’ first round series on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Bradley Beal scored a game-high 32 points to lead three Wizards scoring 20-plus points. With the loss, Washington is eliminated from postseason contention.

After a cold shooting night in Game 4, Russell Westbrook knocked down his first three jumpers of the night on Wednesday, leading the Wizards to an early six-point lead. Washington led by as many as seven points in the first before Philadelphia closed the opening frame on a 9-2 run to tie the game at 29 heading into the second quarter. Beal led the way with 11 points on 4-7 (.571) shooting. The Wizards and Sixers battled back and forth until halftime. Washington led from 10:37 until 1:07 in the second quarter, though never by more than four points. Neither team managed to build momentum or string together a run, due mostly to the high volume of whistles and free throws. The teams combined to shoot 29 free throws in the second quarter, led by Beal and Westbrook, who each shot 6-6 (1.000) from the line. Philadelphia took their first lead of the night on a Tobias Harris 3-pointer with 1:07 left in the first half and carried a 65-63 lead into halftime.

Philadelphia’s offense came alive in the third quarter, scoring 38 points on 66.7% from the field and 57.1% from 3-point range. Seth Curry scored the first 12 points of the second half for the Sixers, battling back and forth with Beal, who added another nine points in the quarter. Neither team managed much separation until a 9-2 Philadelphia run put Washington in its first double-digit deficit of the night with a minute left in the third. The Wizards’ hopes of a comeback faded as the team went cold in the fourth quarter, shooting just 6-18 (.333) from the field, 0-5 (.000) from three and 6-10 (.600) from the free throw line. The Wizards went without a field goal for over five minutes mid-way through the final frame as the Sixers pulled away for the win.

Beal leads the way with 32, averages 30.0 for the series

Beal was at his best from the opening tip. He scored eight points in the first five minutes of the game and totaled 21 in the first half. With 32 points in Game 5, Beal finished the series averaging 30.0 points per game and becomes the first Wizards player to average 30.0 points per game or more over the course of a playoff series since Gilbert Arenas did so in 2006. While he was efficient from the field all night, Beal’s most reliable source of scoring came at the free throw line, where he hit all 10 of his attempts.

Hachimura, Gafford close series with strong performances

While Beal led the way in the scoring column, the Wizards got impact performances from Rui Hachimura and Daniel Gafford, each playing in their first career playoff series. Coming off the first 20-point playoff game of his career, Hachimura notched another one with 21 points on 8-13 (.615) from the field. Hachimura combined to shoot 16-25 (.640) from the field over his last two games of the series. Gafford, coming off a five-block game in Game 4, made his second consecutive start and finished with two more blocks to go along with eight points, seven rebounds and two steals.

The Sixers were playing without MVP candidate Joel Embiid after he suffered a partial meniscus tear in his right knee in Game 4. Dwight Howard, Philadelphia’s only other true center on the roster, played 16 minutes and finished with 12 points and eight rebounds, though Sixers head coach Doc Rivers elected to go small to start the game. Simmons, who started at center, Curry, Harris, Danny Green and Matisse Thybulle got the start. Despite giving up the size advantage, the Sixers outscored the Wizards 52-38 in the paint and won the rebounding battle 40-38. Simmons did it all for Philadelphia, totaling 19 points, 10 rebounds, 11 assists and two blocks.

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Recap: Wizards eliminated with Game 5 loss to Sixers

Highlights: Rui Hachimura at Sixers - 6/2/21

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Highlights: Wizards at Sixers - 6/2/21

Highlights: Russell Westbrook at Sixers - 6/2/21

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Highlights: Bradley Beal at Sixers - 6/2/21

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Coming off a win on Monday night, the Wizards take on the Sixers in Game 5 of their first round series on Wednesday night at 7:00 P.M. in Philadelphia. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBATV and locally on NBC Sports Washington.

Wells Fargo Center | 7:00 P.M. | NBATV &amp; NBCSW | 1500 AM

Wizards: G – Russell Westbrook, G – Raul Neto, G – Bradley Beal, F – Rui Hachimura, C – Daniel Gafford

Sixers: G – Ben Simmons, G – Seth Curry, G – Danny Green, F – Tobias Harris, C – Dwight Howard

Wizards: Deni Avdija (right ankle fracture – out), Davis Bertans (right calf strain – out), Thomas Bryant (left ACL injury – out)

Sixers: Seth Curry (left ankle sprain – probable), Joel Embiid (right knee soreness – out), George Hill (left knee contusion – probable)

Hachimura looks to build on Game 4 performance

In his fourth career playoff game, Hachimura came up huge for the Wizards. The second-year pro scored 20 points on 8-12 (.667) from the field, 3-6 (.500) from 3-point range and grabbed 13 rebounds, giving him his first career playoff double-double. Hachimura’s biggest shot of the night came from deep, putting the Wizards up six with 45 seconds left in the game, giving him three 3-pointers in a game for the first time since March 15. That ability to stretch the floor will be crucial for Hachimura’s development and the Wizards’ chances of getting back in this series, but coaches and teammates say Hachimura’s success is more predicated on his ability to make an impact on defense.

“Rui has a chance to do a bunch of different things on defense,” Wizards head coach Scott Brooks said after practice on Tuesday. “I think he can guard multiple styles of players. That helps. Not only does it help him more importantly, it helps us. I always think, the more stops he can help us get, the more chances he can get out in transition and use some of his speed and athleticism. When he has his best games…it’s the defense that he impacts the game with and helps us have success.”

Both the Wizards and Sixers lost key starters in Game 4. Davis Bertans suffered a right calf strain in the third quarter of Game 4, an injury that will sideline him for at least Game 5. After shooting 1-9 (.111) from 3-point range in Games 2 and 3, Bertans got off to a red-hot start on Monday night, hitting 3-6 (.500) from deep before exiting the game early in the second half. With Bertans sidelined, Washington’s struggles to generate consistent 3-point shooting grows even more pressing. As a team, the Wizards are averaging just 6.8 threes per game on 25.3% from beyond the arc in this series. Hachimura’s improved 3-point shooting, Bradley Beal and role players like Raul Neto and Garrison Mathews will be vital to the Wizards’ efforts keep up the 3-point production without their greatest shooting threat.

Joel Embiid, who averaged nearly 30 points per game in the first three games of the series went down with right knee soreness in the first half of Monday night’s game in D.C. Embiid, considered a top candidate for this season’s MVP award, has been ruled out for at least Game 5. With Embiid possibly sidelined, the Sixers will have to get creative. Philadelphia has no shortage of size at just about every position across their roster, but has just one remaining true center with Embiid out: Dwight Howard. Against a Wizards team that plays at least one of their three centers almost at all times, the Sixers’ decisions on when to go small – and how to go small – will create matchup decisions that will play a large role in deciding the outcome of the rest of the series.

Gafford, Lopez excel in increased workload

With Embiid out and Daniel Gafford coming off his first start with the Wizards, focus will again turn toward Washington’s center rotation as an inflection point in Game 5. After months of balanced usage from Gafford, Robin Lopez and Alex Len, the Wizards leaned mostly on Gafford and Lopez in Game 4. Gafford got the start, played 26 minutes, made all four of his field goal attempts and recorded five of the Wizards’ 12 blocks. Lopez played 19 minutes and scored 16 points on 8-11 (.727) shooting, half of which came in the second quarter. As Philadelphia pivots to smaller lineups, Gafford’s ability to get up and down the court and Lopez’s ability to get to his spot and score from the post should mean plenty more opportunities in Game 5.