The Morning Journal (Lorain, OH)
Wizards getting physical in postseason
One game into the playoffs, Paul Millsap said his Atlanta Hawks were playing basketball while the Washington Wizards were “playing MMA.”
One game into the second round, Isaiah Thomas had his tooth knocked out by an elbow from Otto Porter. Yes, with the backcourt duo of John Wall and Bradley Beal the Wizards like to get out in transition, but they’ve also showed a willingness — maybe even an eagerness — to physically mix it up.
Forward Markieff Morris didn’t even consider Washington’s Game 3 win against the Boston Celtics on Thursday night terribly physical despite eight technical fouls and three ejections.
“I felt like Atlanta was a little bit more physical, as far as our style. We can turn it up a notch and be more physical,” Morris said. “As long as we win, we don’t care how it goes.”
On Friday, the Celtics said Thomas had two other damaged teeth that required “extensive oral surgery to stabilize” and added that he “did not suffer a fractured or broken jaw.”
Thomas has a four-piece temporary bridge that cracked when he was re-injured and replaced at halftime of Game 3. Team doctors are prepared to replace them again, if necessary.
Morris is the engine of the Wizards’ edgy play, unafraid to bump and grind inside, get under the skin of opponents and trashtalk with the best of them. Since he arrived in a trade from Phoenix last year, some of that has rubbed off on teammates, like mildmannered Kelly Oubre Jr. He was tossed from Game 3 for charging and knocking over Kelly Olynyk.
Coach Scott Brooks and Oubre’s teammates acknowledged that was over the line and hope the young swingman will learn from his actions. Oubre said the lesson he took from it was “don’t bee-line anybody anymore on the court.”
Oubre’s actions could lead to a suspension for Game 4 Sunday, but the Wizards aren’t backing down against a Boston team that’s up 2-1 and also seems to be willing to engage in physicality.
“This series is going to be feisty,” said Washington guard Brandon Jennings, who was ejected in the fourth quarter along with Boston’s Terry Rozier for two double technical fouls.