Julian Reese 18 20 Steals Spotlight With Wizards

Merlin sees Washington rookie Julian Reese explode for 18 points and 20 rebounds, including 10 offensive boards, in just his third NBA game in a 122-112 loss to Utah. Undrafted out of Maryland, Reese signed an Exhibit 10 with Toronto, played for Raptors 905, then joined the Wizards on a two-way deal Feb. 28. He shot 5 of 7 and made all eight free throws. His sister Angel Reese was courtside and praised the outing. Merlin notes the bigger picture. The Wizards are thin up front, so Reese was thrown into the fire and delivered. His near double-double college track and solid G League minutes suggest the surge is not pure luck, though the sample is tiny. Expect him to be featured in the final 20 games and put his rebounding skill to the test.