After shooting 9-for-37 from 3-point range through the first eight games, Wall went 3-for-6 against the New York Knicks, his second-most efficient night shooting the long ball this season. Wall led the Wizards with 26 points, seven assists and five steals in the 108-95 win.
Wall even hit a career milestone Sunday, knocking down his 500th career 3-pointer during a stretch in the third quarter when he and Bradley Beal were carrying the offense.
.@JohnWall knocks down his 500th career 3-pointer! #WizKnicks | #DCFamily pic.twitter.com/5vTVnEYBmu
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) November 5, 2018
Wizards coach Scott Brooks particularly liked the unpredictability Wall brought to the offense in the second half.
“He took over with playmaking,” Brooks said. “He took care of the basketball. He sprinkled the offense all the way around. He hit Dwight (Howard) a couple of times. He hit Bradley (Beal) and Austin (Rivers). He hit Jeff (Green) for the lob. And he took a jump shot himself. When we do that we’re hard to beat. We’re less predictable.”
Wall, who had been shooting 46 percent from the field, shot 56 percent Sunday. He attributed the positive offensive performance to team communication and intensity.
“I think it (the offense) was clicking in the first half. We just missed some shots early on,” Wall said. “In the second half guys made some shots. A little bit at times, we got a little stagnant when they came back and made a run and made it a game. Then we got to moving the ball a little bit more … and there was just a lot more communication and a lot more intensity.”
The Wizards’ offense has not been playing with that same intensity all season. Entering the game, the Wizards were 26th in the league in 3-point shooting percentage at 32 percent.
Wall said he felt aggressive play was the difference in the team’s performance compared to their last game, a blowout loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder.
“Playing more aggressive on both ends of the floor,” Wall said. “I just think all five guys were just locked in on both ends of the floor. … The way we were more aggressive on offense helped us defensively.”
Please read our comment policy before commenting.