Wizards Fall To Bulls In Season Finale

The Washington Wizards had been victorious in two out of three meetings with the Bulls coming into their final game of the season in Chicago on Wednesday night.

It had been a tale of two seasons for the Wizards, who started the season an abysmal 5-28, but rebounded to finish 12th overall in the Eastern Conference.

Washington fell behind early by the score of 29-8, but only trailed 52-47 at halftime.

Wizards forward Jan Vesely shoots a layup over Bulls forward Taj Gibson (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)

Though Washington never led, they did manage to tie the game at 85 with 3:19 left in the 4th quarter. John Wall had another chance to tie the game at the buzzer, but missed a three-point attempt, and the Bulls held on for a 95-92 victory. Carlos Boozer led Chicago with 19 points and 15 rebounds. Kirk Hinrich added 18 points for the playoff-bound Bulls.

The Wizards were led by A.J. Price with 24 points. John Wall added 23 points in a losing effort.

Washington's season is now over. Meanwhile, the Bulls will advance to the playoffs to take on the Brooklyn Nets in the first round.

The Last (Home) Game

The last time the Philadelphia 76ers visited the Verizon Center on March 3rd, the Washington Wizards escaped with a 90-87 victory. The two teams had split the season series up until tonight, in what was the final home game of the season for the Wizards.

John Wall signs an autograph for an admirer

Kevin Seraphin signs an autograph for some young fans

It was a festive evening at the Verizon Center, as the Wizards celebrated the last game of the season on their home floor with fan appreciation night. There were plenty of free giveaways, including game-worn jerseys at the end of the game. Most of the merchandise at the team stores was marked down anywhere from 40 to 60% off. It was bittersweet watching the arena shut down for the season, though there was a sense of optimism that next year's Wizards team will be much better than this one if they can stay healthy.

Sixers center Spencer Hawes boxes out Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin

Wizards forward Trevor Booker drives the lane

Booker finishes with the one-handed slam dunk

Kevin Seraphin posts up on Spencer Hawes

Kevin Seraphin takes it up against Spencer Hawes

Seraphin finishes with the hook shot

John Wall in transition

Trevor Booker glides towards the basket for the rebound

Wizards guard A.J. Price drives on Sixers guard Justin Holiday

John Wall drives the lane

Justin Holiday reaches in against Kevin Seraphin

Wizards forward Jan Vesely and Sixers center Spencer Hawes anticipate the rebound

John Wall drives against Spencer Hawes

Wall goes up for the layup against Hawes

The Sixers won the game by a score of 97-86 behind 22 points from Jrue Holiday, but the night belonged to Wizards fans. This was their last opportunity to see this team, one which showed great resilience, bouncing back from an abysmal 5-28 start, to be one of the more competitive teams in the league, and holding down 11th place in the Eastern Conference. Much of the credit for the resurgence of the team was due to the return of John Wall in January. Wall scored 24 points and 7 assists tonight.

As fans filed out of the Verizon Center for the final time this season, they were handed a poster that features all of the players on this year's team. Less than a week ago, the Wizards organization had honored the 1978 champion Washington Bullets. Given the performance of this year's squad in the second half of the season, it doesn't seem too far fetched to think that another title could be on the horizon. Hopefully, as fan photographer, I'll be there to capture every moment, and every memory along the way.

Bring In The Heat

After winning the NBA title last year, the Miami Heat were putting together another stellar season, highlighted by a 27 game winning streak spanning from February through March. As they made their way into the Verizon Center for the last of four meetings with the Washington Wizards, Miami had already won 61 games, good enough to clinch home court throughout the playoffs. Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh had already planned to sit the game out. At the last minute, LeBron decided to take the night off as well.

Heat point guard Mario Chalmers is averaging 8.6 points and 3.5 assists per game this season

Fairfax, VA native, and Heat forward Jarvis Varnado has only played in 11 games for Miami this season

Needless to say, there were a lot of disappointed fans in attendance for tonight's game. Many had payed big money to see LeBron, Wade, and Bosh in action. At least half of the arena must have been Miami fans, or more specifically LeBron fans.

Heat forward Chris Andersen, nicknamed "Birdman", has averaged 4.6 points and 3.9 rebounds in 38 games with Miami

Many thought Heat sharpshooter Ray Allen would finish his career in Boston, so signing with Miami over the off-season came as somewhat of a surprise.

Heat forward Shane Battier has averaged 6.6 points in 24.9 minutes per game for Miami in 2012-13

Now in his second year out of Cleveland State, Heat guard Norris Cole has averaged 5.3 points and 1.9 assists in 2012-13

Heat players lineup before the game for the national anthem

Washington had already beaten Miami once this season. That was on December 4th, before John Wall made his comeback. Jordan Crawford led the Wizards on that night with 22 points. Since then, Crawford had been shipped to Boston, and the Wizards had lost twice to the Heat in South Beach. Tonight, the Wizards were intent on evening the season series with the defending NBA champs.

Wizards forward Jan Vesely jumps for the rebound

Chris Andersen, Norris Cole, James Jones, and Rashard Lewis discuss strategy late in the game

Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin tries to pass out of a double team

Without the stars in the lineup, Miami held on for a 103-98 victory behind 23 points from Ray Allen. Former Wizards Rashard Lewis chipped in 17.

A.J. Price led the Wizards with 23 points off the bench. John Wall added 17 points and 11 assists.

The Wizards will wrap up their home schedule on Friday night, as the take on the Sixers at the Verizon Center.

Celtics Storm Past Wizards

The Washington Wizards had lost both of their previous two meetings with the Boston Celtics this season coming into Sunday night's game at TD Garden. In the first meeting on November 3rd, Boston had escaped with an 89-86 victory at the Verizon Center. Four days later, the Celtics defeated the Wizards again, this time by a score of 100-94 up in Boston.

Washington then swung a deal with the Celtics at the trade deadline, sending Jordan Crawford to Boston in exchange for Leandro Barbosa and Jason Collins, neither of whom suited up on Sunday for Washington.

Tonight, the Celtics led 56-52 at the half, and held on for a 107-96 victory over the Wizards behind 20 points from Brandon Bass. Former Wizard Jordan Crawford only managed 6 points in just over 16 minutes.

Wizards guard John Wall gets bottled up by Celtics guard Courtney Lee, left, and forward Paul Pierce, right (Photo by USA TODAY Sports)

John Wall led the Wizards with 16 points and 10 assists. A.J. Price added 15 points off the bench.

Washington will visit New York on Tuesday to take on the Knicks at Madison Square Garden, before returning home to square off with Miami on Wednesday night in D.C.

Raptors Claw Past Wizards

This past Sunday at the Verizon Center, Bradley Beal's 24 points helped the Wizards to 109-92 victory over the Toronto Raptors. Tonight, Washington had its final meeting with the Raptors at Toronto's Air Canada Centre.

The Wizards led 50-39 at the half, but this time around it was the Raptors running away with an 88-78 victory behind 25 points from DeMar DeRozan and 24 points from Jonas Valanciunas.

Raptors center Jonas Valanciunas takes a shot against Wizards center Emeka Okafor (Photo by Nathan Denette/The Canadian Press)

Washington was led by John Wall with 20 points. Emeka Okafor added 17 points and 8 rebounds in the loss. Bradley Beal was shut down for the season before the game with a fibula stress injury. With the loss, the Wizards were also officially eliminated from playoff contention.

The Wizards will return home on Saturday night to host the Indiana Pacers.

No Bull: Wizards Run Past Chicago

As Chicago continues to wait anxiously on the return of star point guard Derrick Rose, the Bulls have managed to stay relevant, sitting in 6th place in the Eastern Conference. Maybe their greatest achievement of the season was breaking the Miami Heat's 27 game winning streak in front of a sold out United Center. Rose's long-anticipated comeback remains somewhat shrouded in mystery. Are the Bulls simply saving him for the post-season, or is there a chance that Chicago plans on saving him for a different season all-together, one in which the Bulls have a better supporting cast? These questions will be answered come back playoff time, but tonight the Bulls made their final trip of the season to the Verizon Center to take on the Washington Wizards, a team that sat just three games back of 9th place in the Eastern Conference, an amazing feat considering that they had started the season just 5-28.

In the last meeting between the two clubs on January 26th, Washington had defended its home court with a decisive 86-73 victory. Nene led the Wizards ins scoring on that night with 16 points.

The Bulls were not only missing Rose. Joakim Noah, Marco Belinelli, and Richard Hamilton all sat out with their respective ailments.

Without the presence of Noah, Washington was able to out-rebound Chicago 51-45. John Wall's 27 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds helped the Wizards to a 90-86 victory in front of a crowd of 17,319 that must have been made up of at least 50 percent Bulls fans. The game was tied at 86 with under a minute to play, but Emeka Okafor got the go-ahead bucket on a dunk that was set up by a beautiful feed from Nene with 45.7 seconds remaining.

Wizards guard Bradley Beal is defended by Bulls forward Luol Deng

Beal tries to put the ball through the legs of Deng

Bulls guard Nate Robinson looks for a foul call

Wizards forward Kevin Seraphin shoots over Bulls center Nazr Mohammed

Wizards forward Trevor Booker drives on Bulls forward Carlos Boozer

Bradley Beal is defended by Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich

Wizards guard John Wall is defended by Bulls guard Kirk Hinrich

Carlos Boozer boxes out Kevin Seraphin

Bulls guard Daequan Cook leaps for the rebound

Wizards center Emeka Okafor takes the ball to the basket

Hinrich was called for a technical foul late the game by referee Joey Crawford

Hinrich picked up one more technical, and was sent to an early shower

Bulls forward Luol Deng and Wizards forward Trevor Ariza chase after the loose ball

Wizards forward Nene and Bulls forward Jimmy Butler lunge for the loose ball

Nazr Mohammed and Carlos Boozer box out Emeka Okafor

Luol Deng gets up for the rebound

Deng pulls down the board

Wizards guard A.J. Price drives around Nate Robinson

A.J. Price lines up the baseline jumper

John Wall shoots over Jimmy Butler

John Wall drives around Jimmy Butler

John Wall drives on Jimmy Butler and Carlos Boozer

Wall flicks the ball up at the rim over the Chicago defenders

Wall falls backwards, as Butler tries to block the shot attempt

Nene takes it up against  Nazr Mohammed

Chicago was led by Carlos Boozer with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Nate Robinson added 17 points off the bench, despite going only 1-7 from downtown. Kirk Hinrich was ejected with 3:19 left in the game, picking up two technical fouls for arguing an offensive interference call against Nazr Mohammed.

The Wizards will take off for Toronto to take on the Raptors tomorrow night at the Air Canada Centre.