NBA free agent watch: D.J. Augustin (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)
The News After a largely suspect first season in Indiana, Pacers point guard D.J. Augustin is finding his rhythm in the playoffs and reminding why he's a free agent to monitor should the Wizards pass on A.J. Price.
NBA free agent watch: Marco Belinelli (Comcast SportsNet Mid Atlantic)
The News Even if the Wizards re-sign A.J. Price and Garrett Temple, an opening for a perimeter threat behind Bradley Beal remains. Bulls wing guard Marco Belinelli could be the free agent to fill it.
The News Price tied a career high with 23 points in a 103-98 loss to Miami on Wednesday night.
Our View The performance boosted the fourth-year guard's scoring average to a career-best 7.5. He has 49 points over the last three games for the Washington Wizards.
Wizards win ‘on the road at home’ over Heat, 105-101, as RGIII looks on (Ball Don't Lie)
The News We swear, we won't do a special post every time the Washington Wizards win a game, but considering Tuesday night's four-point triumph was just their second in 15 tries and that it came over the defending NBA champion Miami Heat, a bit of acknowledgement seemed to be in order. Maybe not a clownish, apoplectic freakout on the level of CSN Washington's Michael Jenkins , but, y'know, a little something for the effort. Because the effort was most assuredly there.
Randy Wittman's squad came out aggressive, working their way to 14 free-throw attempts (hitting 10) in the first quarter to hang a 30-point opening stanza on the champs behind hot starts from point guard A.J. Price (nine points on 3 for 3 from the field and 2 for 2 from the line) and sixth man Jordan Crawford (seven points in nine minutes off the Wizards bench). While the Heat often looked laconic on defense (ESPN.com's Tom Haberstroh, as close a Miami watcher as anybody, said the team, stars included, played with "charity game level intensity" on that end of the court) the Wizards continued to push, overcoming Miami's superior offensive talent with all-hands-on-deck depth.
LeBron James (26 points on 50 percent shooting, 13 rebounds and 11 assists, his first triple-double of the season), Dwyane Wade (24 points on 9-for-19 shooting) and Chris Bosh (20 points on just 11 shots to go with 12 rebounds and four assists) each got theirs, but with point guard Mario Chalmers sidelined after jamming his left ring finger in the second quarter, Shane Battier missing his third straight game with a sprained right MCL, and designated sharpshooters Ray Allen and Mike Miller struggling (a combined 8 for 22 from the floor and 6 for 17 from 3-point range), Miami found itself surprisingly overmatched by a Wizards squad that got 64 points, 25 rebounds and 16 assists from its bench, led by the trio of Crawford, third-year big man Kevin Seraphin and veteran swingman Martell Webster.
The News Price had 12 points and a career-high 14 assists Saturday in an 89-85 loss at Indiana.
Our View Price is averaging 13.0 points and 10.0 assists in his last three games. Fantasy owners in need of assists shouldn't think twice about scooping Price up.
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