Wizards can't Keep Rockets Grounded

Written By Jeremy Batka @EastCoastAssn

After scrapping and clawing an ugly win in New Orleans the Wizards played their second road game in as many nights looking for their longest win streak of the year, two. Washington battled but came up short in Houston 99-93.

James Harden lead the Rockets with 31 on the night. It could have been worse, after the first quarter Harden had 17 putting him on pace for 68 on the night. After the first quarter the Wizards had 17 as a team.

And by now I'm sure you've heard the rumors of the proposed trade in the off season. Oklahoma City was willing to send Harden to Washington for Chris Singleton and rookie Bradley Beal. Now no ones saying Harden would immediately make this a playoff team, but something tells me he's going to out perform Singleton and Beal combined this year.

For the most part the Wizards played strong defense but had the same problem as every other game; inconsistency on offense. Despite being outmatched talent wise, Washington still found themselves with a chance to win this one down the stretch.

 Beal and Jordan Crawford had a couple clutch threes to keep the Wizards close late in the fourth. Beal had 20 and Crawford chipped in 17 but Chandler Parsons made back to back threes for Houston putting the game out of reach with just under a minute left.

Playing in his home town tonight Emeka Okafor had his best offensive game as a Wizard scoring 19 going 9-12 from the field. Okafor had success in the lane and even made a few jumpers, something that Wizards fans would like to see more often out of their biggest free agent signing in the off season.

You can't make excuses for professional athletes, but the truth is that the Wizards are battling. They just have a lot less weapons then nearly every other team in the NBA.