Playing the 4-23 Washington Wizards, LaMelo Ball’s mix-tape-quality moves were almost unfair.
But even with his highlight-reel plays, Washington got its fifth win of the season — and second against the Charlotte Hornets — with a 113-110 victory.
Ball made a series of plays that looked like he was a Harlem Globetrotter facing the Washington Generals rather than a man playing a legitimate NBA team. First, he dribbled in circles around multiple Washington defenders to get an early layup.
Then, he left Justin Champagnie in the dust with a crossover move.
Then, Ball faked out Kyshawn George so badly on a shot fake that the rookie is guaranteed a spot on “Shaqtin’ A Fool” this week.
But Ball’s biggest fancy play came in the final seconds when he found Mark Williams for a go-ahead alley-oop with 12 seconds left.
After all that, Ball ended up on the wrong side of a spectacular game-winner, as Jordan Poole got Ball moving in the wrong direction as he sank a deep three-pointer that redeemed the Wizards and gave them win No. 5.
Ball won the mix-tape battle. The Wizards won the game.
