Sept. 7, 2016, Verizon Center, Washington, D.C. – The word “perfect” is defined in the Webster’s Dictionary as “entirely without fault or defect or meeting supreme standards of excellence.”
In baseball, a pitcher could pitch a perfect game.
In football, a team, such as the Miami Dolphins, can have a perfect season.
But what is a perfect game in basketball? This is hard to define, even if one uses a statistical definition.
Well, on Wednesday night, the Washington Mystics came as close to as perfect one can argue.
Statistically speaking, of course. In defeating the Chicago Sky by 37 points, 118-81, the Mystics broke their franchise record of number of points scored in a game, which was previously 109. They recorded a season high of 16 three-point field goals (out of 28 attempts, or 57 percent). They made 61 percent of their field goal attempts while keeping their opponents to just 38 percent. Washington had 33 assists compared to Chicago’s 17, with all nine Mystics players completing at least one or more.
In the entire game, the Sky managed no more than a one-point lead, which lasted a total of 10 seconds. Meanwhile, the Mystics already reached the century mark with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter, going up 101-64.
Well, maybe not perfect, but definitely “meeting supreme standards of excellence.”
Photos: Washington Mystics 118, Chicago Sky 81
all photos by Kwai Chan / Meniscus Magazine