The Washington Wizards’ unfulfilling and unlucky season ended, in effect, with a play that explained their plight. The Raptors held a 10-point lead, an impending series-clinching victory and the Wizards’ misguided ego in their hands. Wall and Beal had led the Wizards into the second round during their first three playoff appearances, in 2014, 2015 and 2017. The Raptors finished off the Wizards, but only after Washington had suffered dozens of self-inflicted wounds in falling to the eighth seed. And while Beal was healthy the entire season, he had shown signs of fatigue after playing all 82 games and carrying the Wizards without Wall.

Source: Washington Post April 28, 2018 04:07 UTC