Story By: Erin Zollars
Photos By :Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
We get that the Wizards have had their share of woes this season, but today was just another in a series of woes that continues at home.
Today it was the early game against Portland that featured a team that was knocked off by the Sixers and looking to find a way to win on MLK Day in the District, they did just that against a Wizards team that started this game down 17 points and were able to get it within reach after the half, but in the end it was too much Damien Lillard and Company for the Wizards.
Against the Wizards, the shots were falling for the Blazers, especially from 3-point range, and there was more attention to detail and less hesitation. The result was a dominant performance from the backcourt of Lillard (16 points) and C.J. McCollum (25) and Portland’s fourth win in five games.
The Blazers’ defense took a toll on Eastern Conference player of the week John Wall, who lit up the Boston Celtics for 36 points Saturday. Wall scored just nine points on 4-of-17 shooting.
“I was frustrated,” Wall said. “I had some good looks that I had from the last games, and I wasn’t making them. It was frustrating to me because I feel like I was letting my team down.”
Garrett Temple, who addressed the crowd before the game to commemorate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, led Washington with 18 points. Marcin Gortat had 16 points and 10 rebounds.
“In the third quarter we reverted back to the first quarter,” Wall said.
The Wizards seemed to have another problem of finding a way to get the scoring balanced between their starters an the bench. At this point, it seems as if the All Star Break can not come soon enough for this team that has struggled to find a way to win at home lately and struggled to stay close enough to make it over the .500 mark.
Next up for the Wizards, another match up against Miami at home on Wednesday night.
