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The Wizards' season was on the precipice as early as Jan. 12. Although Washington had just beaten Phoenix, the team was 3-8 and about to see its roster decimated by COVID-19. When the Wizards returned after a two-week hiatus, they lost nine of their next 12 games, falling to 6-17, the second-worst record in the NBA at the time. What transpired over the next three months was nothing short of incredible. Russell Westbrook reverted back to his MVP form, Bradley Beal competed with Stephen Curry in a scoring race that went down to the season's final week, and the under-the-radar trade-deadline deal for Daniel Gafford gave the roster a boost for the final stretch. Add it all up and the Wizards went 28-21 over the final 49 games, finishing in eighth place in the Eastern Conference and making the playoffs via the NBA's play-in tournament before losing in the first round to the Philadelphia 76ers. The offseason in Washington now turns to the future of Bradley Beal and the delicate balancing act of bringing back free agents (Ish Smith, Robin Lopez, Raul Neto) while also staying below the luxury tax.
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