![\"Wizards](\"https:\/\/platform.bulletsforever.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/52\/2026\/01\/gettyimages-2254399767.jpg?quality=90&strip=all&crop=0,0,100,100\")
<\/a><\/p>\nWizards wing Bilal Coulibaly had five steals in the team\u2019s win over the Orlando Magic. Getty Images<\/p>\n
Whether it was the starters \u2014 CJ McCollum hit several shots in the closing minutes to help secure the win \u2014 or just Orlando\u2019s bench mob running out of gas, the comeback stopped there. The Wizards closed out their 10th victory of the season, 120-112.<\/p>\n
Washington\u2019s starters (plus Justin Champagnie) dominated the Magic. Alex Sarr led the way at both ends, scoring an efficient 23 points in 31 minutes and blocking five shots. He deterred several more attempts when Magic players cut short drives or passed rather than attempt a shot over the Wizards\u2019 big man.<\/p>\n
Bilal Coulibaly was a defensive wrecking ball. He harassed Orlando star Paolo Banchero into four turnovers and offensive rating of just 97 (league average is 115.8 so far this season).<\/p>\n
McCollum continued what Magic broadcasters said was a career-long pattern of torching Orlando.He finished with 27 points on 19 shots to go with five assists and six rebounds.<\/p>\n
Coulibaly stripped Banchero on the game\u2019s opening possession and took the ball the other way for an easy bucket. It was a pattern that repeated throughout the game. His hands on defense are excellent \u2014 he had at least three strips. Opponents think they have the ball secured only for him to reach around and punch it loose. His awareness is also superb \u2014 opponents cannot make crosscourt passes when he\u2019s in the vicinity.One offensive improvement from Coulibaly: he\u2019s gotten better at closing space when he has the ball and a defender sags off him to concede the three. Instead of just pulling the trigger on an iffy shot, he\u2019s using that space to build momentum and drive by his man. This was a tactic Ben Simmons used back when he was good.For the game, the Wizards were (slightly) outshot, and out-rebounded. They won because Orlando (uncharacteristically) committed a bunch of turnovers and (characteristically) committed a load of fouls. The Wizards hit 31-33 from the free throw line while the Magic \u2014 typically good at getting to the line \u2014 made just 16-24.Two plays \u2014 one for each team \u2014 exemplify one of the problems with NBA officiating. It\u2019s not an issue of consistency \u2014 the refs make the calls the same way game after game for stars and non-stars alike. Play One was around 1:06 in the first quarter: Marvin Bagley III drove. The defender stayed with him and was in good position. Bagley lowered his shoulder and plowed into him, knocking him back and creating space. Then he went up and scored. On Play Two (around 9:08 in the second quarter), Desmond Bane knocked Bub Carrington down with a lowered shoulder before rising up to hit a three. There was no call from the refs on either play. Both of them should have been whistled as offensive fouls, would have been in any other league or level of play \u2014 and would have been in any previous NBA era.The Wizards had some trouble defending a clever Orlando action. The Magic would send a big man to screen up top. It looked each time like the start of a typical pick-and-roll ball screen except the big would set the pick off ball and the guard would then cut into the lane. The Wizards typically don\u2019t switch off-ball screens. The action produced several open cutters, as well wide-open looks from three-point range. With sloppy passing and poor shooting, the Magic largely failed to capitalize. One successful example came early in the first quarter \u2014 McCollum got back screened, Khris Middleton stepped into the lane to help, and Orlando\u2019s da Silva hit the wide open corner three.Between Coulibaly and Sarr, the Wizards might have building blocks for a terrific defense in the future. Coulibaly has the agility and length to effectively defend everyone from skittery guards to tradition power forwards. His length and awareness make him a menace in passing lanes. His ability to guard up should improve as he gets stronger. With Sarr, the Wizards have a potentially elite rim protector, who can also competently defend on the perimeter when switched onto a smaller player.I continue to think the Wizards should promote Champagnie into the starting lineup \u2014 at least until Kyshawn George returns from his strained hip flexor.On the first night of a back-to-back, it looked like Keefe was trying to let the youngsters finish off this game. They couldn\u2019t hold the lead, and he was forced to go back to the starters.Orlando\u2019s Jase Richardson had a good score in YODA (my stat-driven draft prospect evaluation tool), and every time I see him play, I like what I see. He needs to get stronger (as is the norm for every young player), but he makes good decisions, has excellent skills, and plays with craft. He scored a career-high 20 points in just 26 minutes last night, and was a big reason the Magic mounted a comeback.<\/p>\n
Below are the four factors that decide wins and losses in basketball \u2014 shooting (efg), rebounding (offensive rebounds), ball handling (turnovers), fouling (free throws made).<\/p>\n
The four factors are measured by:<\/p>\n
eFG% (effective field goal percentage, which accounts for the three-point shot)OREB% (offensive rebound percentage)TOV% (turnover percentage \u2014 turnovers divided by possessions)FTM\/FGA (free throws made divided by field goal attempts)FOUR FACTORSMAGICWIZARDSLGAVGeFG%52.2%51.7%54.4%OREB%27.7%23.9%26.1%TOV%18.2%13.4%12.8%FTM\/FGA0.1740.3600.215PACE104100.0ORTG107115115.8<\/p>\n
PPA is my overall production metric, which credits players for things they do that help a team win (scoring, rebounding, playmaking, defending) and dings them for things that hurt (missed shots, turnovers, bad defense, fouls).<\/p>\n