The Washington Wizards kept their season alive with a 122-114 Game 4 victory over the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday night. Joel Embiid's knee injury was certainly a big factor, as was Ben Simmons' poor performance at the charity stripe. The Wizards deployed a Hack-a-Ben strategy down the stretch, and it worked out.
With Washington intentionally sending Simmons to the line multiple times in a row in crunch time, star Bradley Beal decided to play some mind games with the Sixers star. Before one of the attempts, Beal walked up and stood next to Simmons for several seconds. The Wizards star didn't actually say anything, though, instead just using the silent treatment as an intimidation tactic.
Via Chase Hughes of NBC Sports Washington:
“I didn’t say anything. I didn’t say one word to him. I just stood there. I wanted to try to play a little mind game with him,” Beal said.
Simmons missed one of the two free throws and went 5-of-11 for the game.
As Hughes notes, this is reminiscent of when LeBron James spooked Gilbert Arenas at the line in a playoff game back in 2006. LeBron walked up to the Wizards legend and reportedly told him this: “If you miss both of these free throws, the game is over.”
Arenas missed the free throws, and the Wizards lost the game and the series.
This also brings to mind Scottie Pippen's infamous trash talk during Game 1 of the 1997 NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Utah Jazz. With the game on the line and Karl Malone shooting free throws, Pippen delivered this iconic line: “The mailman doesn't deliver on Sundays.”
Malone missed both free throws, and Michael Jordan followed that up with a game-winning shot. The Bulls went on to win the title in six games.
This move from Beal won't be remembered like those, especially considering the Wizards are likely going to lose the series. But he's doing everything in his power to win and keep Washington's hopes alive.
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