Halftime buzzer screamed through the arena.
Bullets 58, Roares 55.
The Roares had clawed their way closer, but never quite closed the gap.
Milton had cooled off once Gibson took over the defensive assignment—just 1-for-4 after that—but the Bullets didn't lean on one star alone.
They still had Holloway. Best known for his clamps, sure, but when his team needed buckets? He delivered. And let's not forget—this was the defending champs. Every guy on that roster could ball.
Ryan had added four more points in the second, going 2-for-4. Six total.
Not bad. Not enough.
In the locker room, Crawford scribbled plays on the whiteboard, barking adjustments. The break felt too short.
Ryan stayed on the bench to start the third—he'd played the entire second quarter.
From the sidelines, he watched the collapse unfold in real time.
Less than four minutes in, the Bullets tore off a 13–4 run.
Crawford slammed his clipboard and called timeout.
