Hawks 130, Wizards 126
Q. What do you think made the difference for them?
WES UNSELD JR.: Well, I think they got going a little bit after we had that initial stretch, jumped up to a little bit of a lead. I think we found a little bit of comfort and thought we were okay, and then they obviously got going.
Didn't seem to have the same level of intensity as the other night, but to our guys' credit, they kept playing, down 15 with whatever, 2:15 left, able to just extend the game as best we could and give ourselves a chance.
Q. 53 three-point attempts is a lot. I believe it's a franchise record. What led to that?
WES UNSELD JR.: Well, honestly, the vast majority of them were pretty good. It's just finding that balance of great shots, open threes, versus when you're not making them, get to the paint, create something downhill. So just finding that balance.
But overall I think the vast majority were quality.
Q. I'm not clear what you mean when you talk about finding the balance between good shots and letting it fly, or what do you mean there?
WES UNSELD JR.: No, I think a lot of those were great shots as far as they were open, within the confines of what we were trying to do. They were in the right areas, the corners. They were off of some type of action. Those in general you'd say are great.
Now, reading the flow, if we don't make a lion's share of them, then we've got to get to the paint, we've got to get to the line, find a way to get downhill a little bit, put pressure on the rim.
Q. Second quarter was really kind of the only time they got a big gap on you guys. Why do you think you couldn't crawl out of the deficit after --
WES UNSELD JR.: Well, some of it was those shots. When you miss shots and you're on your heels a little bit -- their two guards put a lot of pressure on you, schematically trying to keep them under wraps, and they just -- the ability to shoot but then put pressure on you by driving, kicking. I think that got them going a little bit.
The free throw disparity was one thing, more so in the last probably 10 minutes when we had to foul and extend the game. But in general trying to get that ball under control was difficult.
Q. Corey had his fourth straight game with at least 13 points. What have you seen from him that's been good so far?
WES UNSELD JR.: He's been very aggressive finding those threes. Not to the point where he's taking bad shots, but I think we've prioritized that for him, and I think he's taken hold of it. He's also doing a really good job of driving the paint, getting to the rim, getting to the free-throw line a little bit, finishing a little better in those small space areas.
We've seen that a little bit all year, but that's been great for his development, and it's like an added dimension for his game.
Q. At one point tonight he hit Gafford with a no-look pass to the hoop for a nice dunk. Do you think that off-the-bounce game of Corey's is still a little underrated?
WES UNSELD JR.: For sure. It's an area that he works on every day. He'll continue to improve in that area. But he's aware that teams are going to run him off the line and he's got to find coverage solutions. Playing downhill is one. Getting to the line is another. But being a secondary facilitator off the bounce is probably a third.
Q. For the second straight game, Deni had a double-double. What have you like from him so far?
WES UNSELD JR.: Just his last two games facing the half court, his cutting and movement, he's made some great plays off the bounce, finding rollers, getting below coverage. He's playing with force. I think that's important because it's going to help us. It collapses the defense and opens up a lot of things.
Q. What was it like trying to scheme against Trae Young tonight, and how tough was it with how many times he got to the free-throw line?
WES UNSELD JR.: It's difficult every time. He's a master at drawing contact and getting free throws. He's been that his whole career. But he's shifty, so keeping him in front, you know you're going to have to guard a ton of pick-and-rolls. But talked about that pregame, that combination between him and Capela, him and Johnson, as well. They seemed to have found a little bit of a rhythm.
But getting in front of the ball and staying in front, not giving him angles, then therefore you open up and now he's initiating contact and get to the rim and/or to the line.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports