Wizards Get Production From Unexpected Source

The Washington Wizards are switching things up.

Jeremy Brener | Dec 7, 2024

Nov 27, 2024; Washington, District of Columbia, USA; Washington Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III (35) warms up before the game between the Washington Wizards and the LA Clippers at Capital One Arena. Mandatory Credit: Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images / Reggie Hildred-Imagn Images

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Washington Wizards

The Washington Wizards have been hit with some tough times as of late.

Not only has the team lost 16 games in a row, but they have also been bitten by the injury bug with several players hitting the sidelines.

With players dropping like flies, it opens up some opportunities for others, including veteran big man Marvin Bagley III. Bagley hadn't played in more than 10 minutes for any game at any point this season, but he drew the start in the team's last game against the Denver Nuggets, scoring a team-high 16 points while grabbing eight rebounds.

“You never know when your number is going to be called,” Bagley said in the postgame press conference. “This is the NBA. I’ve been through every situation in my career — starting games, coming off the bench, DNP’s, injuries. I've seen every aspect of it and at this point in my career and and life it's all about controlling what I can control and that's how I prepare.”

Bagley started in the frontcourt with Kyshawn George (ankle), Kyle Kuzma (rib) and Corey Kispert (ankle) all on the sidelines. In the past, the Wizards had started Jonas Valanciunas, but coach Brian Keefe opted for a slight change to see if that could trigger a different result.

The risk didn't pay off as Bagley was a -12 in the contest, but the former No. 2 overall pick out of Duke might have a newfound confidence with his play, which could translate into a win potentially down the line.

Bagley and the Wizards will look to snap the team's losing streak tonight when Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets come to the nation's capital. Tipoff for the game is set for 7 p.m. ET inside Capital One Arena.

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Published Dec 7, 2024

JEREMY BRENER

Jeremy Brener is an editor, writer and social media manager for several Fan Nation websites. His work has also been featured in 247 Sports and SB Nation as a writer and podcaster. Brener has been with Fan Nation since 2021. Brener grew up in Houston, going to Astros, Rockets and Texans games as a kid. He moved to Orlando in 2016 to go to college and pursue a degree. He hosts "The Dream Take" podcast covering the Rockets, which has produced over 350 episodes since March 2020. Brener graduated in May 2020 from the University of Central Florida with a Bachelor's degree in Broadcast Journalism minoring in Sport Business Management. While at UCF, Brener worked for the school's newspaper NSM.today and "Hitting the Field," a student-run sports talk show and network. He was the executive producer for "Hitting the Field" from 2019-20. During his professional career, Brener has covered a number of major sporting events including the Pro Bowl, March Madness and several NBA and NFL games. As a fan, Brener has been to the 2005 World Series, 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 NCAA National Championship between the Villanova Wildcats and North Carolina Tar Heels. Now, Brener still resides in the Central Florida area and enjoys writing, watching TV, hanging out with friends and going to the gym. Brener can be followed on Twitter @JeremyBrener. For more inquiries, please email jeremybrenerchs@gmail.com.