By Johnny Askounis/ info@eurohoops.net
After an 0-2 start to the 2024-25 NBA Regular Season, the Washington Wizards escaped the State Farm Arena with a win, 121-119, over the Atlanta Hawks.
Booed by the crowd due to his decision to decline a workout with the Hawks during the offseason, French Alex Sarr put in seven points behind 3/11 field goals, nine rebounds, two blocks, and one assist over 27 minutes.
The second pick of the 2024 NBA draft, Sarr went to the winning end of the first NBA collision with fellow French upstart and first selection of the draft, Zaccharie Risacher. As for the 19-year-old forward, he stayed in the starting lineup but was held to four points and 1/8 field goals.
Besides a disappointing display by the youngsters from France, fellow Frenchman Bilal Coulibaly piled up 17 points, three assists, two steals, and two rebounds for the Wizards.
A third European starter for the team coached by Brian Keefe, Lithuanian Jonas Valanciunas threw in seven points, nine rebounds, and four assists.
For the team guided by Quin Snyder, Swiss Clint Capela scored 16 points with 6/6 two-pointers. The starting center added four points, two rebounds, one block, and one steal.
Besides Serbian Bogdan Bogdanovic missing a third straight game due to a hamstring issue, Czech Vit Krejci suffered a right adductor injury during the second quarter and did not return. Lasting nearly ten minutes, he had seven points and one steal.
A rematch between the Hawks and the Wizards is set in Capital One Arena on Wednesday.