Alex Saar wanted to forget Myles Turner’s counter

We are approaching the last minute of the meeting between Bucks and Wizards. Players from Brian Keefe have a chance to get back in front as CJ McCollum plays a pick-and-roll with Alec Sarr.

The Frenchman is served on his drive towards the circle but is violently opposed by Miles Turner. In the process, French vs. Giannis Antetokounmpo then gets a rebound, but Tre Johnson can’t score on the next possession and Khris Middleton sends “The Greek Freak” to the free throw line.

The latter succeeds in both and gives his team the advantage in possession (113-110) with 33 seconds left. So it smells good for the Bucks, except CJ McCollum gets a very quick layupwhich allows Washington to offer itself one last chance at victory… provided it defends well.

Kevin Porter Jr. he tries to be his team’s hero by diving into the Wizards paint, but his layup is too complicated, except Giannis Antetokounmpo comes out to rebound offensively. So he has a chance to give his team a five-point advantage under the circle, but Alex Saar comes out again to match him! CJ McCollum is then able to counterattack and score the game-winning shot for Washington, which is imposed 114-113.

Best blocker (acceptable) of the season

For Brian Keefe, this finish is a symbol of the defensive progress of his team, which still ranks last in the category since the start of the season (121.7 points per 100 possessions), but ranks a much more interesting 18th (115.9) in the last nine games (four wins).

“It’s always good to win, but above all I’m happy with the way we’re playing at the moment. Our resilience is better, our defense is improving and there were decisive actions on this side of the pitch at the end of the match, especially Alex’s counter attack.” the coach notes. “We still have a long way to go, obviously, but we’re going in the right direction and we’re winning with the style of basketball we want to play, so that’s satisfying.”

The author of 20 points, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks, was once again confirmed by Alex Sarr his role as a defensive anchor for the Wizards, with this decisive “block” against Giannis Antetokounmpo. In the form of revenge.

“There was this action where I could have killed the match and I just wanted to give them back” explains the second-year French student. “And I’m glad CJ scored at the other end.”

Enough to confirm the status of the current best blocker of the season, with 2.3 “blocks” per match, just ahead Jay Huff. Car Victor Vembanyamadespite his 2.9 average blocks per game, he is (for now) ineligible for the award as he has missed more than 30% of his team’s games.

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How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.