By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
The latest brilliant performance nearly amounted to a 20/20 produce, but Kristaps Porzingis was not enough to lead the Washington Wizards to the win against the Brooklyn Nets on the road Wednesday.
Porzingis, 27, ended up with 27 points and 19 rebounds in Barclays Center. Red-hot Kevin Durant netting 39 points was the top performer for the Nets and also extended his personal streak of scoring at least 30 points to four games.
“He’s the best player in the world,” the Latvian forward/center mentioned starting to comment on guarding Durant, “He’s very hard to stop especially if he’s feeling good, he’s getting to the line, he’s getting and-1s and he’s coming off a 45-point game also? He is confident. His confidence probably never wavers.”
Durant, 34, poured a season-high 45 points against the Orlando Magic Monday. He is averaging 30 points per contest so far in the 2022-23 NBA Regular Season.
“We had a hard job tonight. But I feel like we did a decent job on them as a group. We were there to win the game. It just did not go our way tonight,” added Porzingis.
Besides defense on Durant, Porzingis is also on a roll in recent games. Facing the Minnesota Timberwolves Monday, he set his personal best to 41 points. Following up with a 21-point, 19-rebound double-double attracted additional attention to his 2022-23 campaign, despite the loss. He is up to 21.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.6 assists, 1.6 blocks, and 0.8 steals per contest.
“My body is feeling well. That’s one thing. Mentally, I am in a good place, and playing my game and being aggressive. I am trying to figure out ways how I can be better for my teammates,” he said, “I wish we came out with a win. It would be a different feeling right now. For myself, individually, I like the way I am playing and the way I am moving. Things are clicking. I want to keep that going.”
Forced down to 11-11, the Wizards will be aiming to bounce back in a visit to the Charlotte Hornets Friday.
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