Paul Pierce’s home opener with the Washington Wizards didn’t last as long as he’d hoped, as he was ushered to the showers just before halftime after picking up a pair of technical fouls.

The Truth wasn’t happy that his actions left his already shorthanded squad down another man, and after formally issuing an apology to his teammates in the locker room, he issued another on the court against the New York Knicks.

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

No. 34 had a huge game, tallying 17 points, five rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks, all in just 28 minutes of play as the Wizards routed the Knicks, 98-83.

“I actually apologized. You put your team in a bad position,” Paul said before Tuesday’s tilt at Madison Square Garden. “It was a one- or two-point game. It could be costly for your teammates so I actually apologized.”

The Wiz kids were quick to accept both apologies served up by their veteran teammate, and that includes the contributions he made that didn’t show up in the box score.

Paul started the game matched up on Knicks star small forward Carmelo Anthony. Anthony was having his typical high-volume evening, and the only Knicks playing well to start the game were him and center Samuel Dalembert. With about four minutes left in the first half, Paul turned his defense up a notch and did everything he could to disrupt the hot-shooting Anthony.

In those final four minutes, he stole the ball from Melo twice, blocked his layup attempt and drew the second foul not only on Melo, but also on Dalembert. Wittman said after the game that it was the defense that won the Wizards the game, citing the final minutes of the first half and the opening minutes of the second half as the turning point of the game.

“I thought we established our defense. We picked up our pressure,” Paul said.

“I think we did a great job of mixing up our coverages on (Anthony) at times. I was putting pressure on him. Then when he moved, Otto (Porter) had a chance to guard him. A number of guys that gave him different looks.”

Paul scored just two points in the first quarter, as the Knicks were out to a six-point lead. The Wizards then briefly tied the game in the second, only to allow New York to put together a run to stretch that lead once again. No. 34 quelled that surge with a trifecta off a Marcin Gortat assist inside the final two minutes of the half, and the Wizards went to the break down 45-40.

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

As the Wizards struggled early, Paul helped to guide his young teammates, not only with his defensive play on the court, but also with plenty of open communication throughout the game.

“You talk to them, you get into he timeouts, you tell them what’s going on, what’s going wrong,” Paul explained. “I’m constantly talking to the guys all game long. We have to communicate, and that’s going to make us a better team. We all talk to each other. I ask them their opinion too.”

The Truth noted in his postgame interview that halftime was a major teaching point for himself and the other veterans on the roster—and it showed in the way his team played after the break.

The Knicks came out cautious in the second half, leading to easier baskets for the Wizards and a much more conservative offense for the Knicks. The momentum was undeniable.

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

On the first possession, Paul drew a shooting foul on Iman Shumpert and knocked down the free throws. After another solid defensive possession, No. 34 grabbed the rebound and sent it up court, leading to free throws for Garrett Temple. A few seconds later, Marcin Gortat scored, tying the game and forcing the Knicks to take a timeout after giving up five straight points to open the half. Shortly after the timeout, The Truth and star point guard John Wall took over. Wall found No. 34 for a three-pointer, which the wily vet nailed while getting fouled and completed the four-point play at the line.

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The two offensive masters traded baskets after the four-point play — working together to build a lead while seemingly battling internally to outdo one another. For more than the first 10 minutes of the second half, all but four of the Wizards’ 24 points were either scored or assisted by No. 34 or No. 2. In that stretch, Paul scored eight points while adding two assists and a rebound; Wall put in five points and two assists.

Pierce’s final act of the quarter was dropping a dime to Garrett Temple on a trifecta. Temple has been the most pleasant surprise thus far for the Wizards, shooting 50 percent from three. He knocked down 4-of-7 shots from deep against New York, notching 17 points.

Together, Paul, Wall and Temple combined for 45 points to help the Wiz turn their five-point halftime deficit into a 12-point fourth quarter lead.

Through the first half of the final frame, the Knicks constructed a strong run, cutting that lead down to just eight points. But immediately after a pair of Shumpert free throws made that deficit eight, Paul came through with the knockout blow.

Wall drove hard to the hoop just before the 5:00 mark, sucking all five Knicks defenders into the paint. That left a 10-foot cushion on all sides for No. 34. Wall roped a pass out to the wide-open Pierce, who stepped up and buried the three that made it a double-digit deficit once again.

After that body blow from The Truth, the Knicks didn’t have the wind to finish their rally.

“That’s what we bring,” Paul said. “We are the vets, we’re the older guys on this team, we bring a calmness to this ballclub when things are going too fast or we’re not executing. I think we have a great mix of youth and veteran guys, and that gives us an even keel, especially in tight games or games that are in the balance.”

Washington Wizards v New York Knicks

Paul and Wall have made a particularly lethal duo, presenting something of a Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde combo. Paul, 37, plays a confident, tactical and precise game, like a surgeon on the court. Wall, 24, is equally confident, but he’s aggressive, ferocious and energetic, like a puppy stuck in a cramped apartment. Together, they’ve embarrassed opposing defenses.

The Wizards are off to a strong start despite the absence of Bradley Beal, the team’s No. 2 scorer from a year ago, and much of that is thanks to the job done by No. 34 in fitting seamlessly into his new squad. With that in mind, Paul believes that the only way to go is up for D.C.

“We’re going to continue to grow, we’re gonna get better,” The Truth said. “We have a long way to go, but we’re making strides.”

NEXT UP

The Wizards return home on Wednesday for a rematch against the Indiana Pacers. The Pacers eliminated Washington from the playoffs last year in a series that many, including Paul, thought the Wizards should have won.

Indiana will look completely different from the squad that knocked Washington out, however. Arguably Indiana’s two best players from that team will be missing, with small forward Paul George expected to miss the year with a broken leg and shooting guard Lance Stephenson now in Charlotte.

The game will be broadcast nationally on ESPN and it begins at 8 p.m. ET.

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