Washington ends preseason winless after second loss to 76ers PHILADELPHIA — In their second and final preseason game, the Wizards looked a little bit more like they’re expected to when the real season tips off next week. Equal parts encouraging, exciting and distressing in a 101-94 loss against the Philadelphia 76ers, it wasn’t the nightmare that the first preseason contest had been four nights before.
But it did complete the Wizards’ first winless preseason since going 0-8 in 1992. Washington went 1-1 during the last lockout-shortened preseason in 1998-99.
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John Wall (17 points, four turnovers) and Andray Blatche (13 points, six rebounds, five assists) were both erratic but determined. In his first game since re-signing with Washington, Nick Young (eight points) offered a brief but welcome taste of the scoring prowess he demonstrated as the Wizards’ leading scorer last season — as well as his usual offensive blinders. As a team, the Wizards were more competitive and more focused defensively and on the boards, even if it wasn’t always effective.
“I like where we’re at,” Wizards coach Flip Saunders said. “I would’ve liked to have seen our guys pull it out at the end. But I think our guys feel good as far as the things we said we had to do to get better today, that we worked on the last two days. We got a lot better in those areas.”
Blatche’s early shooting woes and Wall’s turnovers, along with a left-handed dunk attempt rejected by the back rim, set an ominous tone in front of a half-empty Wells Fargo Center. But the second-year point guard also hit a buzzer-beater at the end of the first quarter.
Young, who didn’t have the legs for an extended effort, missed his first shot but made an impression for an offense searching for an identity. He followed up with a long 3-pointer and snuck around Thaddeus Young to nail a jumper and earn a trip to the line.
“Having Nick back is great,” Blatche said. “He’s trying to get back into his groove, find his shot. Nick is going to be a major piece for us.”
Wall found JaVale McGee (20 points, nine rebounds, three steals, two blocks) for the first of three alley-oops the 7-footer would throw down during active stretches in the second, third and fourth quarters.
Trevor Booker came off the bench to pull down a team-high 11 rebounds, and rookie point guard Shelvin Mack was solid late taking over at point guard, though he and the Wizards couldn’t stop Jrue Holiday (24 points) from putting the game away late.
The Wizards also struggled for the second straight game from deep, where Jordan Crawford (18 points) missed four of five attempts.
Top Wizards draft pick Jan Vesely participated in warmups but did not dress for the game after being limited by a hip injury in practices following the first preseason game.
“I feel good,” Wall said, then forecasting the unknown that lies ahead, starting with a visit from the New Jersey Nets on Dec. 26. “It just depends on what team is going to come out and compete every night.”
