Again, it’s only one game, but from Wall to rookie owner Ted Leonsis, the 116-115 overtime win over Philadelphia was the kind of contest that can’t help but inspire some level of confidence throughout the franchise for the season ahead, even if it exposed challenges that are likely to come up again and again with the young team that it will trot out each night.

“I told our guys we were 2-1 tonight: we won two and we lost one,” said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. “It felt like we played three games tonight. But I think as an organization, we talked about this through training camp, as far as building. We’re going to go through these times. We feel real good right now, we’re one shot away from feeling really bad.”

John Wall watch

The biggest challenge this season may be simply coming up with new and different ways to describe the overwhelming impact that Wall has on the Wizards and the endless ways in which he is able to kick, drag, push and carry them toward competitiveness and ultimately, victory.

And we’re not even getting into The Dougie to end all Dougies.

In Wall’s first two games, he frustratingly flirted with double-double territory only to be denied a tenth assists time after time.

Against the 76ers, Wall did that with ease, registering his double-figure assist early in the fourth quarter. But by then it was barely news, because he’d made a half-dozen steals in the third quarter alone, including four during a 12-2 run that appeared to turn the game, transforming a 58-57 lead into a 70-59 margin.

“I guess I just got lucky, being in the right place at the right time,” said Wall. “Went for a steal and I got ‘em. Coach told us don’t gamble too much. Tonight I felt like I was in the right way, and I had the right state of mind to get the ball.”

When the Wizards went back down by six again late in the fourth quarter, Wall simply raised his game in response. Down, 100-94, after Evan Turner (9 points, 6 rebounds) – whose matchup with Wall didn’t headline as expected but still played a role – fought through a seemingly blocked shot to convert in the lane, Wall put his head down and went straight into Elton Brand to get contact and a pair of free throws (Wall hit 11 of 14). Down, 102-99, Wall with another driving layup. Later, two more foul shots before Cartier Martin’s overtime-clinching three.

And in overtime, another four points along with an assist and a steal.

“John’s a monster, man,” said Al Thornton. “He just keeps going and going and going. He showed that on the defensive end tonight. To come up with nine steals, that’s amazing.”

“He’s got an unbelievable will to win,” said Saunders. “He wills the team. He wants to take the last shot. He wants to take the big shot. He wants to make the play. He got into some trouble at times [8 turnovers], but he fought through it and was able to make some big plays at the end. When you get nine steals in a game, you just change the complexion of the game so much at that end, it got us aggressive.”

Ballers

Cartier Martin

Saunders said the first option on the final play of regulation was supposed to be for Nick Young, with Kirk Hinrich as the decoy. Martin, who had already knocked down a 3-pointer in the corner just before the end of the first quarter, was option No. 2.

 “That was the shot that won the game for us,” said Andray Blatche.

Nick Young

Saunders gave him credit for his work at both ends of the floor that helped the Wizards bounce back after an awful start saw them down, 14-3, and eventually, 20-6, barely midway through the first quarter. At that point, the season looked awfully long.

But Young took advantage of being guarded by Jrue Holiday (14 points, 13 assists), who is a couple inches shorter, hitting his first two shots in the first quarter and finishing the half 6 for 8 on the way to 20 points for the game.

“I don’t get along with UCLA boys,” said Young, always a USC Trojan through and through. “Nah, Jrue’s a good friend of mine from L.A., and he’s a great talent.”

Al Thornton

He had an underrated night in a game where a lot of points where scored. Thornton made key buckets early and late. Early: he picked up an errant pass that was meant for Hilton Armstrong, took a dribble and slammed it home to make the score 20-8 in the first. He also scored down the stretch in the fourth and in overtime, both times helping to keep the game within reach.

Andray Blatche

This accolade may be more deserving for Saunders for deciding to go to Blatche at the end of overtime after he’d turned the ball over three times. The Verizon Center knew it, too. But Blatche attacked Brand, got the whistle, and most importantly, made the free throws.

“What Ernie Grunfeld told me: legs, fingertips and follow through,” said Blatche when asked what he was thinking as he stepped to the line. “I held it and it went in.”

Blatche also started the night with the first bucket of the game – and then went on to miss his next four shots. He finished with a line that is whatever you want it to be: 23 points (13 for 14 at the line), 8 rebounds, 6 turnovers.

“Everybody keeps saying it was up and down,” said Blatche. “It wasn’t up and down. I did what I said I was going to do earlier in the day and yesterday. I’m going to get to the hole, and that’s what I’ve been trying to do.”

Busts

JaVale McGee

He played barely half the minutes of the rest of the starters after again picking up two quick fouls and finished with 3 points and 6 rebounds. He still had the monster jam of the night, rising up high enough to almost sit on Spencer Hawes as he posterized the Philadelphia center in the third period.

Portrait play

Two candidates: First, Martin’s 3-pointer, not only for how it happened but the cumulative effect it might have on the franchise.

“I’m not saying that he’s worked on that shot a lot,” joked Saunders. “But I guess it’s only fitting that he makes that shot with Mrs. [Irene] Pollin sitting in the front row. It was nice to see her there.”

Second, Wall getting called for a foul on Andre Iguodala when he chased him down on the fast break and appeared to cleanly block his shot from behind. Had the foul not been given, overtime might’ve been a more one-sided affair.

Trend of the night

How about a victory at home to jump start this franchise.

“[The fans] were into the game, and we gave them something to cheer about,” said Saunders. “One thing I’ve learned in the time I’ve been here is that you come in and you play hard, the fans of D.C. will respect you for competing and playing hard. That’s what our guys did.”