The Wizards are one of the hottest teams in the NBA right now.
Yes, you read that correctly.
After upsetting the defending NBA champions Monday night — beating the Lakers 127-124 in overtime at the Staples Center — Scott Brooks' squad is rolling.
Russell Westbrook, now healthy after recovering from a nagging early season quad injury, has started to find his groove as the first half of the season draws to a close and the Wizards are in the midst of a five-game winning streak.
The 32-year-old former MVP got off to a sluggish start with his new team, starting the season on a five-game skid, with many people wondering why exactly Wizards GM Tommy Sheppard dealt John Wall in the first place.
Westbrook's locomotive style of play wasn't working in Washington, and despite putting up big numbers, which he is more than accustomed to doing, his teammates weren't getting involved.
Westbrook has seemed to remedy the issue.
In consecutive wins over the Celtics, Rockets, Nuggets, Blazers and Lakers, Westbrook is averaging 12 assists and 12 rebounds per game, and while the shooting numbers are still an issue (he's 0-for-9 from three-point range) in that stretch, his run-and-gun style of play is drawing more double teams, and leaving his Wizards teammates wide open.
Also important to their new success, Westbrook is emerging as a leader, an instrumental force behind the scenes.
Westbrook is getting a major contribution from his backcourt mate Bradley Beal, and has seemingly turned the Wizards around in the process.
Beal, who was named an All-Star starter for the first time last week, has led the league in scoring (32.9 PPG) since play resumed in late December.
The Wizards take on the Clippers Tuesday night in the second leg of a back-to-back, with a chance to keep the win streak alive as Washington (11-17) draws closer to .500 and playoff contention.