NBA Playoffs: How Wizards Fared Against Teams Already in Conference Semi-Finals

With three teams already taking their seats in the conference semi-final round of the NBA Playoffs, we look at how the Washington Wizards fared against each.

Author:
David Harrison
Apr 27, 2023 1:43 PM EDT

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The Washington Wizards are sadly not competing in this year's NBA Playoffs, but with any luck - and some good decision-making in the near future - they will be again sooner rather than later.

If they do, the Wizards will find themselves playing alongside teams like the Philadelphia 76ers who have already earned a spot in the Eastern Conference Semi-Finals Round of this year's postseason run.

Washington split the regular season series with the 76ers by winning one each on the road and at home.

In their best win against Philadelphia, the Wizards put 121 points on the board in early November led by forward-center Kristaps Porzingis' 30 points.

Washington put up north of 100 points in all but one of its four regular season contests against the 76ers, which is better than the Brooklyn Nets can say after hitting the century mark just once while getting swept out of the first round of the playoffs.

Meanwhile, in the Western Conference, the top-seeded Denver Nuggets and fourth-seed Phoenix Suns have punched their tickets to the second round and will actually face each other for the right to play for a conference championship.

The Wizards lost both of their contests against the Nuggets this past season but won both against the Suns.

Of course, both wins against Phoenix came prior to forward Kevin Durant joining the team, and guard Devin Booker was also absent for each.

Between the Suns, 76ers, and Nuggets it's Phoenix that has the best odds to win the NBA Championship this year.

While Washington carries a .500 record against teams who quickly dispatched their first-round opponents this year, the reminder it did so while facing some of those rosters at less than full strength is something to remember when deciding the future direction of its own squad.

Not because we all love living in misery, but because awareness of how the Wizards fall short compared to second-round competitors is the best fuel to guide the efforts to making sure they are one next season.

Find David Harrison on Twitter @DHarrison82

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