John Wall shows Wizards can still eat in first game back

In just one game back, the effect that Wizards star John Wall had on his teammates was instantly noticeable. Guard Bradley Beal, for example, ran around screens and wasn’t met with double teams.

Instead, Wall — with defenders still focused on him — found Beal for a series of wide-open 3-pointers.

Appearing in a game for the first time since undergoing knee surgery in late January, Wall recorded 15 points and 14 assists Saturday in the Wizards’ 107-93 win over the Charlotte Hornets. There were some signs of rust as Wall shot only 35.3 percent. But his ability to create offense for others was indisputable.

With Wall out in recent weeks, the Wizards survived by embracing “Everybody Eats” — the mantra the team adopted to describe its pass-first mentality.

In Wall’s absence, Washington went 15-12 and had an assist percentage of 69.9.

Washington’s success prompted questions of whether Wall would be willing to adapt to the Wizards’ new style of play. Wall, on the other hand, dismissed those concerns, saying he’d be the same player because “that’s all I know how to do.” His teammates said they didn’t need Wall to change.

But now that he’s back, the Wizards’ offense — at least for one night — showed it can still generate plenty of assists. Against Charlotte, the Wizards had 30 assists on 40 field goals. 

Wall, after all, is a point guard.

“I know people are going to look at certain stats like that, like ’how many assists did we have, how many hockey assists did we have? How many swing-swings did we have?’” Wall said. “Those don’t type of things don’t bother me. As long as we got the win and I played okay, and didn’t have any injuries or setbacks, I’m fine with it.”

Wizards coach Scott Brooks raved about Wall’s return, comparing him to a Ferrari. While the Wizards had initial success without Wall, they were uneven in March with a 5-8 record before his return to the lineup.

The ball movement, at times, became stagnant, and the Wizards resorted to lifeless basketball. In March, the Wizards looked like they were going through the motions — and that continued Sunday in a 113-94 loss to the Chicago Bulls.

Because the Wizards want to be cautious on back-to-backs, Wall did not play in Chicago. But the Wizards could have used him, failing to beat a team designed to tank.

“We weren’t ready mentally,” Brooks told reporters in Chicago. “When you’re not ready mentally, you’re not going to have a chance to win.”

The opposite was true Saturday.

Against the Hornets, Wall was ready to play.

On Saturday, Wall was patient in letting the game come to him, drawing in defenders and reading situations.

Chemistry was there, too. Beal shot 6-of-8 from beyond the arc, and five of those makes came off a Wall pass. Wall also easily found center Marcin Gortat for two dunks off the pick-and-roll. 

“That’s what he does,” Brooks said. “That’s what he does at the highest level in the league. All you have to do is just step up and make shots and roll to the basket, you’re going to get layups. He doesn’t need to change, he just needs to keep getting some game conditioning, get his legs under him.”

Wall didn’t face a minutes restriction and finished with 33 minutes. Wall said his conditioning felt fine, aside from a run in the third when he started to get winded.

Because the Wizards want to be cautious on back-to-backs, Wall did not play Sunday against the Chicago Bulls.

With the Hornets win, the Wizards also clinched a playoff spot, marking their fourth appearance in five seasons. They remain in the sixth spot in the standings.

“I just wanted to come back and play as well as I could,” Wall said. “I know I haven’t played in two months, so try not to force the issue, just play my game, and take shots that I always have. But, also keep those guys in a great rhythm because they’ve been playing well.”