ORLANDO, Fla. — The Wizards’ defense looks much improved, which isn’t difficult considering last season’s 30th-place ranking. But just how much better is it?
The numbers say drastically.
Six games into the 2025-26 campaign, the 1-5 Wizards ranked 28th in defensive rating (119.6) and 30th in points allowed per game (128.3). They allowed more than 125 points in five of those contests, including two instances of 139 points.
Six games into the 2026-27 season, the Wizards haven’t allowed more than 121 points in a game. They rank seventh in defensive rating (106.1) and 11th in points allowed per game (109.7). That’s a 21-spot jump in defensive rating and a 19-spot improvement in points allowed per game following the team’s 95-79 win over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday.
“Terrific defensive effort by us tonight,” Brian Keefe said after Friday’s win. “We brought the physicality early, and I thought we consistently brought it throughout the game. Obviously, a 13-point third quarter for them, and then we started making our shots, which I knew we would because we were doing the right things in the first half … A great team win.”
