The Washington Wizards celebrated their first game this season with a full complement of healthy players by shortening the rotation and administering a 117-98 beatdown of a decent Philadelphia 76ers, which had won 8 of its last 9 games.
With head coach Wes Unseld Jr. and assistant Pat Delany both in the Covid protocols, sideline duties fell to assistant coach Joseph Blair. Blair administered the team’s rotation change, which dropped Deni Avdija, Davis Bertans and Aaron Holiday.
The Wizards took control fairly early, building a 10-point lead in the first half. Crummy play at the end of the second quarter sent them into the half up just 6, but they quickly pulled away from the 76ers.