With an average of 25.7 points between Game 2 and Game 4, PJ Washington was more than an X-factor in the Mavericks' takeover of the series against the Thunder. Less prolific in the fifth round, the interior was also very discreet in Game 6, arriving in the last quarter without any points scored!
Blame it on the quick whistles, which block it at 17 minutes after three quarters. “I chose the right moment. You have to stay ready, calm and not let foul problems take you out of the match. You have to stay inside”, he reacts. In the final act, he came out of the hat with 9 points, including two award-winning shots which did Dallas good.
“I think he was waiting for this moment. He played well most of the time during this series, so we had confidence in him. He could make important shots”analyzes Kyrie Irving. “He didn’t have any points then he made big shots and free throws”comments Jason Kidd.
The right move to miss your free throw
Indeed, after a basket from Chet Holmgren which gives the Thunder a point advantage twenty seconds from the end, he wants to hit behind the arc. He fakes Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and gets a foul, therefore three free throws. He scores the first, then the second and Dallas takes the lead. There are then 2.5 seconds left and the Thunder no longer have any timeouts…
“It doesn't count as a successful play, but missing the free throw correctly was important,” underlines the Mavericks coach. “Sometimes we miss the free throw by just touching the backboard and it's a throw-in. We didn't want to let them set up. »
PJ Washington makes the right move. Chet Holmgren takes the rebound and serves Jalen Williams, but the latter is twenty meters from the basket when he draws. It's a failure and the Mavericks go to the conference finals. “It’s a dream come true. It feels good. I made decisive free throws »he rejoices.
| PJ Washington | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | L.F. | Off | Def | Early | Pd | Party | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2019-20 | CHA | 58 | 30 | 45.5 | 37.4 | 64.7 | 1.0 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 0.9 | 1.6 | 0.8 | 12.2 |
| 2020-21 | CHA | 64 | 31 | 44.0 | 38.6 | 74.5 | 1.5 | 5.1 | 6.5 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 1.1 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 12.9 |
| 2021-22 | CHA | 65 | 27 | 47.0 | 36.5 | 71.6 | 1.3 | 3.9 | 5.2 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 10.3 |
| 2022-23 | CHA | 73 | 33 | 44.4 | 34.8 | 73.0 | 1.0 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 15.7 |
| 2023-24 * | All Teams | 73 | 30 | 43.6 | 32.0 | 68.3 | 1.2 | 4.5 | 5.6 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 12.9 |
| 2023-24 * | CHA | 44 | 29 | 44.6 | 32.4 | 71.3 | 1.2 | 4.1 | 5.3 | 2.2 | 2.6 | 0.9 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 13.6 |
| 2023-24 * | DAL | 29 | 32 | 42.1 | 31.4 | 62.7 | 1.1 | 5.1 | 6.2 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 11.7 |
| Total | 333 | 30 | 44.7 | 35.4 | 70.5 | 1.2 | 4.4 | 5.5 | 2.2 | 2.5 | 1.0 | 1.5 | 1.0 | 12.9 | |
How to read the stats? MJ = matches played; Min = Minutes; Shots = Successful shots / Attempted shots; 3pts = 3-points / 3-points attempted; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive rebound; Tot = Total rebounds; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal fouls; Int = Intercepts; Bp = Lost balls; Ct: Against; Pts = Points.
