Washington coach Brian Keefe is in no doubt as to where the Wizards need to improve when they host the struggling Sacramento Kings on Sunday.
After winning the first two legs of a five-game homestand, Washington came back to earth with a thud on Friday, trounced 142-111 by the Los Angeles Lakers.
The Wizards were outgunned 41-27 in the opening quarter, 36-21 in the second for a 77-48 halftime deficit, and trailed 97-59 midway through the third period.
“Start better” was Keefe’s two-word solution. “We only lost the second half by two. They obviously came out and made some tough shots, but we didn’t have our (style) what we’ve been doing a lot lately — with the force and physicality to make people miss shots.”
Washington did demonstrate some belated fight in the second half, primarily thanks to its bench, spearheaded by guard Malaki Branham, who had 17 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from 3-point range.
“Great credit to the crew that came into the second half,” Keefe said. “Anthony Gill, Malaki, (Will) Riley, Jamir (Watkins) were with that group, (and) a mixture of some other guys with that. But those guys came in and gave us a good spark, good fight. But too little, too late.”
Gill admits the young Wizards got ahead of themselves after beating the Milwaukee Bucks 24 hours earlier.
“I think the biggest thing we can learn is to stay neutral,” he said. “Last night (Thursday against Milwaukee) we had, in our minds, a big win. We celebrated and we thought we were on top for a little bit. We were quickly humbled (Friday, by the Lakers). We didn’t come out the way that we should have. They jumped on us from the start, and we could never get it back.”
There are plenty of opportunities for Washington’s reserves such as Gill to play meaningful minutes given the team’s lengthy injury list.
Tre Johnson (ankle) and Khris Middleton (knee) didn’t play against Los Angeles. Johnson will sit out against the Kings while Middleton is available.
Tristan Vukcevic (hamstring) will be sidelined again but Marvin Bagley III (back) has been cleared. Trae Young (knee, quadriceps) will be re-evaluated following the mid-February All-Star break, according to ESPN.
The Kings are in a deeper hole, owning the worst record in the NBA. They have lost eight straight games — including the last five of a disastrous eastern road swing — after going down to the Boston Celtics 112-93.
That loss mirrored the Wizards’ effort against the Lakers, also the second fixture of a back-to-back set.
The Kings were outscored 40-25 in the first period, 32-21 in the second, and fell behind 85-54 in the third, before finishing strongly.
“For us, it doesn’t matter where we’re at — we have to play to our standard and figure out a way to win — road, whatever,” Sacramento coach Doug Christie said. “It goes without saying, anytime we lace them up, we want to win. Being in ballgames and figuring out how to finish them, especially the last two, come to mind.”
Russell Westbrook (foot) didn’t play in Boston, or in Philadelphia against the 76ers the night before, while Domantas Sabonis was rested against the Celtics. Both are listed as day-to-day.
Christie’s bigger concern, as he seeks to manufacture an end to the Kings’ skid, is avoiding coughing up needless turnovers.
“We’ve been in some ballgames on the road,” he said. “I would say more than anything, one of the things you have to do on the road is you have to take care of the basketball. Ball security is huge.”
Sacramento just defeated the Wizards 128-115 on Jan. 16.
