The star base Russell Westbrook debuted with his new team, the Washington Wizards, which won by 99-96 to the Detroit Pistons, in what was his first victory in the reshort NBA preseason, which came to an end.
Westbrook, traded by the Houston Rockets to the Wizards, he hadn’t played with his new team yet and the debut could not be more positive.
The presence of Westbrook in the direction of the game immediately made himself felt as a new leader who helped the young center Thomas Bryant to lead the Wizards’ winning attack after scoring 22 points and seven rebounds.
For its part, guard Bradley Beal reached 15 points; the reserve pivot, Cuban-American Robin López, scored 13 points and Brazilian point guard Raúl Neto reached 10 with two assists in the 19 minutes he played.
Westbrook, who finished with eight points (4-10, 0-3, 0-0), seven rebounds and three assists, he said he was very happy. “I like where we were tonight and my job is to try to set the tone,” he said.
Grant, the best of the Pistons
Power forward Jerami Grant, the Pistons’ best signing for the new season, and veteran point guard Derrick Rose, who came out of reserve, contributed 14 points each as leaders of the Detroit team, which finished the preseason 2-2.
The last day before facing the start of the competition, next Tuesday, also left the triumphs of the Orlando Magic and the Atlanta Hawks.
The rookie point guard Cole Anthony came out of reserve, but with 19 points and four assists, he became the key player in the Magic’s balanced attack. They beat the Charlotte Hornets 120-117.
Power forward Aaron Gordon, with 20 points, and Swiss Montenegrin center Nikolas Vucevic, who achieved a double-double of 18 points and 12 rebounds they also helped the Magic win (2-2).
Hornets triumph
While in the Hornets point guard Devonte Graham, who contributed 25 points, and Terry Rozier, who reached 24, were the best of the Charlotte team that he could barely get a win (1-3) in the four preseason games played.
The Italian power forward Danilo Gallinari emerged as the leader of his new Hawks team by scoring 19 points that helped them win on the road 116-117 to the Memphis Grizzlies, in what was the second victory of the preseason (2-2).
The Grizzlies, who had the guard Dillon Brooks as their leader after scoring 17 points, including five 3-pointers from eight attempts, suffered the first defeat in the four games they played during the preseason (3-1).
