Houston 137, Wizards 114
Q. I wonder how you're approaching this challenge, being called on like this at the end of the year and all of a sudden you're playing heavy minutes and everything. What's your mindset going into it?
JULES BERNARD: It's what I signed up for. I'm a guy who loves to compete at the highest level, and that's always been my dream as a kid is just to be great at competing and against the best players in the world.
So to have the opportunity, I just want to seize the moment and you know, competition really drives me. So no matter if I'm tired, once I get in the game, I'm going.
Q. What's your priority in terms of keeping your body ready and making sure you're fresh?
JULES BERNARD: Staying diligent and consistent with the work we do off the court. We have a great medical staff and I've been working with them all throughout the year just making sure any little nagging injuries are taken care of, and then even when I'm feeling good, just making sure that we want to stay that way, keeping me in treatment every day.
I think the biggest thing about basketball is being available, and that's a goal of mine each season. So taking care of my body is extremely important.
Q. You guys played them super tight until right at the end of the third quarter. What shifted momentum?
JULES BERNARD: We had some defensive lapses. Jalen Green got hot; hit some threes. Once he got going, and then we tried to blitz him on some of the plays and get the ball out of his hands, and you know, some of his teammates hit some threes.
So you know, we had a tough little defensive stretch for about five minutes, and that's really the game, it's a game of margins, and they took advantage and knocked down shots.
Q. I know you said it's what you signed up for. What's the hardest part about going from the Go-Go to the Wizards and vice versa and dealing with the injuries?
JULES BERNARD: I don't know, it's tough, because I love this game and I love to play basketball, and if my body allowed it, I'd play until -- I'd play forever.
So you know, it's a tough question to ask because I go into each situation like always eager to play, and you know, I want to compete, that's my big thing, and show what I can do. Whether it's with the Go-Go or with the Wizards, I'm always eager for the opportunity and eager to compete against great players, and show I'm one of better players on the floor.
Sometimes it's tough. Like you know, just learning the differences between the personnel. Knowing how to play with the players on the Go-Go and with the Wizards. But I think over time, I've been acclimated to each group separately, and I've kind of started to figure out tendencies, how people play, what they like to do on the court.
So it's been an adjustment, but I feel like I've developed a little bit of an understanding.
Q. On the subject of personnel, would you say that it helps that you've developed chemistry with the guys on the Go-Go and now you're sharing the court on the Wizards, because of all the injuries, like that time you spent together at Capital City, has that helped your transition?
JULES BERNARD: For sure, the Go-Go, I was with them last year, half of last year, and then this year, as well. Just the whole organization from top to bottom has helped develop me a lot through medical staff, through coaching. You know, through the off-court stuff. People are always there for you. I appreciate the Go-Go a lot because you know, they allowed me to explore and/or at least show my talent.
So I think -- and the thing about it is they have a lot -- the Go-Go also have a lot of great players, so learning how to play with other guys who can go as well has helped translate a little bit to the Wizards because obviously we have a lot of talented players.
Q. Right at the end of the game, you saw Boban Marjanovic in the lane and you drove in, you kind of hit a floater. Was that the highest you ever had to go over a floater?
JULES BERNARD: I'm not going to lie, there's a photo of me in college, we played Washington, there's a guy. He was probably -- he might have been like 7'5 or something. I tried to shoot a floater. It was the highest -- it was over the backboard and everything. I almost made it. That was definitely a tall feat to get that over him.
Q. What was your tightest turnaround between a Go-Go game and a Wizards game this year? I know you've had a lot of them?
JULES BERNARD: I think, well, the first time I ever -- it was actually -- I think it was like a week ago, not too many games -- days ago. I had to play, I think it was like a 10:00 or 11:00 a.m. game with the Go-Go and then played later with the Wizards that night.
Q. Do you nap in between? What do you do?
JULES BERNARD: Man, you've got to get your rest the night before. But yeah, I think that was the if I understand time I ever done anything like that. It's definitely pretty interesting.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports