Wizards 117, Bucks 113
Q. Obviously a big win for you guys. What do you attribute it to?
BRIAN KEEFE: It was a team effort. Everybody contributed. Obviously we got down a little bit in numbers, but we just kind of stuck until the end of the game. We trusted the pass, and we finished the game in the fourth, but credit to the guys who were on the court tonight. Great job.
Q. How about the strip from JP with about 45 seconds left there?
BRIAN KEEFE: Big play. Big play for sure. We made a lot of big plays tonight. A lot of guys made a lot of huge individual plays throughout the course of the game. So a lot of guys contributed. Great team win.
Q. Do you have any injury update on Marvin?
BRIAN KEEFE: Just a right knee sprain for now. We'll know more. That's all I have for right now.
Q. What did you like about Corey who didn't necessarily have it from three but turned in 27, I think a season high?
BRIAN KEEFE: He just generates so much offense for us. I think you guys see this, the cutting, the moving, obviously the shooting, but it's more than that. It's rolling to the basket, the drives. He's like a one-man motion out there, old-school John Havlicek if you guys like that reference, but no one knows that. I grew up in Boston, so I know about Hondo, but the constant motion is impressive, and big scoring night for him.
Q. I just wonder about Jared had three huge threes I think at the end of the third, beginning of the fourth. Is it self-belief? Is it determination? What did you see from those end-of-the-bench guys tonight?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think it's just the preparation and the work behind the scenes. I get to see that every day, so the work these guys put in, and Jared has always been a guy who's competitive, wants to make big plays, and he made some big shots tonight. Then Tristan got extended minutes and showed what he was capable of. Big contribution from him tonight.
Q. What does it say about the resiliency of the team when so many guys are unavailable with injuries and Marvin goes down to use the depth that you have on hand to get a win like this? What does it say about them?
BRIAN KEEFE: It shows that we have high-character guys, and the guys who do the right things to prepare themselves to play. This is the stuff we talk about we want to build in this organization, the character, and we're seeing that in games. I think we've seen this lately with guys have stepped up when it's been their opportunity, and I think it goes to the preparation that they put in with us. A lot of it's the Go-Go -- quick shout to the Go-Go tonight. Unfortunately they lost at the buzzer, but what a great experience for our guys to play in a playoff intensely, playoff basketball, so Jules Bernard, Justin Champagnie, Patrick Baldwin, Jr., and all the guys, the coaching staff. They had a great year, but what a great opportunity for them to play when the stakes are high. Unfortunately they didn't get it done, but a great year for the Go-Go.
Q. Is this the kind of game that whatever the result was going to be, but because of the effort showed maybe that the team is really on to something, that it's making growth in trying to build an identity?
BRIAN KEEFE: Yeah, I think so. It always helps when you get the wins to back up some of the things that you've been doing. Thrilled for the win for the guys, but I think we're seeing it on a day-to-day basis. We're seeing it, that we're growing with how we approach things and our mentality and our habits. Tonight that resulted in a win.
Thrilled for our team. Thrilled for our guys because they put a lot of work in. Obviously we're a little bit short-handed, but we didn't use it as an excuse, and we never will here, and really happy for them.
Q. What's JP showed you as a playmaker the last couple of weeks?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think it's been great. I just told him right after the game, he really just managed the game. He set the table, 13 assists. He kind of controlled the flow. This is kind of what we envisioned when we put the ball in his hands more, for his growth and his development. I like the floor game that he played tonight. Scored when he had to but found his teammates and got them going because they needed the confidence that he can build. That's what he's capable of, so it's great.
Q. How do you describe the mood in the locker room after this one?
BRIAN KEEFE: The guys were happy for sure. Because I think they felt the contributions from everybody. Everybody had contributed. I think when you have team wins like that, I think those are the ones that feel the best. The guys were happy about that.
Q. Tristan had his best game of the season it seemed like. What did you see from him?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think you saw a little bit of everything. The floor spacing, the passing. I liked his defense mostly. I think that was what -- he's big, vertical at the rim, got on the perimeter and switched a little bit, so we saw a little bit of everything. This is great for development. We're learning him, too, and discovering parts of his game as we go, but we're thrilled that he's here, and we're thrilled he wanted to be part of us and be part of our program.
Q. As far as you know will some imaging be done on Marvin's knee?
BRIAN KEEFE: The only update I have is just he got the knee sprain and there will be further evaluations going forward, but nothing specific right now.
Q. Usually when they're playing big-name teams there's a lot of fans from the opposition that are cheering, but tonight (indiscernible) until the very end. What can you say about the crowd participation in tonight's game?
BRIAN KEEFE: I think David would speak to this, but I think people from D.C. and this area have a great understanding about basketball, and they like good basketball. I think they're really supporting our team because we're playing a good style. They like the hustle, they like the sharing. I think the crowd has a good basketball IQ, so I think they could feel the way we were playing tonight. I think that was really key tonight. Great support from our fans. It was terrific.
Q. Coach, how have you seen Deni (indiscernible)?
BRIAN KEEFE: Deni has been great. Growth has been tremendous. We've put the ball in his hands to make plays for himself, for others. The rebounding has been great. We're going to keep pushing Deni to do more because we think he can keep growing, and he's shown growth over these last few months, and we're going to keep pushing him to do that.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports