The Portland Trail Blazers have developed a taste for the dramatics during their seven-game trip, and they kept the trend alive with a thrilling 129-121 victory over the Washington Wizards. For the second consecutive game, the Blazers found themselves in a tight spot against one of the NBA’s worst teams, but they managed to pull out a win in the final minutes.
Blazers Struggle But Finish Strong
Portland only gained control of the game in the final minute, pushing their lead to 125-117. The Wizards were still in the game at 121-117 when Marcus Smart hit a crucial three-pointer with 1:14 left. However, Smart’s disagreement with the referee over a foul call on Shaedon Sharpe led to a technical foul and a free throw from Anfernee Simons, giving the Blazers a 122-117 lead. Washington couldn’t recover, and Jordan Poole’s late dunk with 28 seconds left was too little, too late.
Sharpe Shines With Career-High 36 Points
Shaedon Sharpe led the Blazers with a career-high 36 points, including 18 in the first half. He shot 13 of 26 from the field and added eight rebounds and five assists. Coach Chauncey Billups praised Sharpe’s all-around performance, noting, “His offense was incredible. All three levels. He was incredible the entire time.”
Simons chipped in 16 points and five assists, while Scoot Henderson added 16 points, including three three-pointers, coming off the bench. The Blazers’ bench was key in the win, contributing 78 points, with Henderson and Sharpe leading the charge.
Wizards Struggle Despite Poole’s 24
Despite 24 points from Jordan Poole, the Wizards were unable to keep up with Portland’s offense. Richaun Holmes and Corey Kispert each scored 20 points for Washington, but their efforts weren’t enough to overcome the Blazers’ inside dominance. Portland scored 62 points in the paint, outpacing Washington’s 42, and also took advantage of turnovers, scoring 27 points off them compared to 18 for the Wizards.
Avdija’s Injury
Deni Avdija returned to Washington for the first time since being traded to Portland, but his game was cut short due to a left quad injury in the first quarter. He played just six minutes but scored five points with two rebounds. Despite his injury, Avdija remained optimistic, saying, “At least we got the win. It was a scrappy game.”
Coach Billups expressed sympathy for Avdija, saying, “It’s unfortunate that he got hurt in the game. Deni is a warrior. He never gets hurt. So, if he goes off the floor, you know he’s really hurting.”
What It Means for Both Teams
The Blazers (26-33) have now won three consecutive games, including their 114-112 victory over the Utah Jazz on Monday. They remain 4.5 games behind the 10th-place Sacramento Kings (30-28), who defeated the Jazz 118-101. On the other hand, the Wizards (10-48) continue to struggle, with their playoff hopes all but dashed. They are now closer to finishing the season with the worst record in the NBA.
