John Wall’s triple-double lifts Washington Wizards over Houston Rockets
The Washington Wizards dealt the Houston Rockets their sixth defeat of the season with an emphatic 98-91 win behind a triple-double performance from John Wall on Wednesday 10 November at
the Verizon Center in Washington.
Wall, who was the first-overall pick in the 2010 NBA draft, had 19 points, 13 assists, and 10 rebounds for his triple-double in his NBA career.
“I wasn't forcing too much tonight,” said Wall, who also added six steals for the Wizards. “Finding my teammates, making the right reads. Sometimes I get too excited trying to make a spectacular
play instead of the simple play. Tonight I think I did the right thing with the simple plays.”
Wall’s spectacular play impressed Magic Johnson, who came to watch the rookie sensation, but the the 20-year-old guard downplayed the comparisons to Johnson after the game.
“He's a legend, a Hall of Famer, somebody that you would look up to,” said Wall on Johnson, who had 138 triple-doubles in his career, which is the second-highest in NBA history. “He had the
'Showtime' in him, won championships. You try to reach the goals he got but do it in your own fashionable way.”
Andray Blatche also had a great night as the emerging big man racked up 20 points and 11 rebounds, while Al Thornton also added 20 points for the Wizards, who unleashed a 10-0 run late in
the fourth quarter to bag the win.
The Rockets, who were coming off a 120-94 win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, erased an 11-point deficit and took the lead early in the fourth period, 78-74, but they couldn’t hold again
to their advantage like they did in their previous defeats.
“I was disappointed again,” said Rockets head coach Rick Adelman. “Every game we've had this year, except for the one we won, right down to the fourth quarter, we have a chance to win, and
we don't get it done.”
Kevin Martin spearheaded his team’s attack with his 31 points, while Argentinean power-forward Luis Scola had 24 points, but Wall’s performance was simply too much tonight and Martin admitted
that he was impressed with the rookie.
“He seems like he loves the game,” said Martin. He also explained his own strong play. “[I was] finding my teammates, making the right reads. Sometimes I get too excited trying to make a
spectacular play instead of the simple play. Tonight I think I did the right thing with the simple plays.”
Chinese centre Yao Ming, whose minutes were being limited this season, came out in the opening period after sustaining a strained tendon in his leg, and the severity of the injury is still
unknown after the game.
“I have no idea,” Adelman said when asked about Yao’s injury. “He is coming off a 15-, 16-month layoff. He's not the Yao from two years ago.”
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