In a thrilling finish, Jordan Poole propelled the Washington Wizards to a 113-110 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday night, lifting the team out of the NBA’s bottom position.
Poole’s decisive 3-pointer with just 8.1 seconds left secured the win for the Wizards, who, combined with a loss by the New Orleans Pelicans, improved their record to 5-23. This victory marks a significant turnaround for Washington, which endured a 16-game losing streak earlier this season. They now sit ahead of the Pelicans (5-26) and are closing in on the Toronto Raptors (7-24) and Hornets (7-23). Since breaking their losing streak, the Wizards have recorded three wins in their last eight games, including two victories over the Hornets within a week.
“I’ve always felt like I’ve been the man for the moment, and I make big shots all the time,” said Poole, who led the team with 25 points. “Credit to the coaching staff for putting the ball in my hands, and shout-out to my teammates for finding me as well.” At 25 years old, Poole is one of the more experienced players on a young Wizards roster that features three rookies—Alex Sarr, Bub Carrington, and Kyshawn George—each averaging over 25 minutes per game.
Sarr contributed significantly with 15 points, including a crucial tip-in with 14.8 seconds remaining, along with three blocks. “We’re learning, we’re trying to get up a lot of 3s, but I think something that coach harps on night in and night out is just relying on our defense,” Poole noted. “We’re such a young team right now that we’re still trying to find our identity on offense.”
Despite only scoring 17 points in the fourth quarter, the Wizards’ defense proved pivotal in securing the win. “We got gritty defensively,” said head coach Brian Keefe. “You can win sometimes when you don’t shoot the ball well. Great effort by our guys.”
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