Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
There have been quite a bit of ups and downs this season for the Wizards and tonight became the 11th one of the ups this season as a late push in the fourth quarter and strong defense in the final seconds helped the Wizards to a 115-111 victory.
Coming into the game tonight, the Wizards had lost 8 straight games, but also had three players named to the rising stars game on February 13th in LA. One of those stars, Alex Sarr led the way for the Wizards with 29 points and 12 rebounds.
The victory tonight gave the Wizards their first victory over the Blazers at home since January 16, 2017. It’s been so long that all of these stars on the Wizards were going into Middle or High School at that time.’
The Wizards were able to hold off a team that played the see-saw game for most of the fourth quarter after Kyshawn George made one of two free throws with 15.5 seconds to play, putting the Wizards up 113-111. After a timeout, Shaedon Sharpe’s contested jumper missed, and Khris Middleton’s free throws made it a four-point game.
Sharpe led the way for the Blazers with 31 points, who for most of the game dominated the Wizards in the rebounding department. The Blazers found a way to still fall short despite a 69-46 rebounding edge over the Wizards and having two players with double doubles in Deni Avdija 17 points and 12 rebounds and Donovan Clingan’s 17-point effort combined with huge rebounding night with 20.
One of the big differences we have seen is the Wizards again let a team creep back in the final 3 minutes of the fourth quarter, but they were actually able to drop some offense of their own.
The Wizards face the Bucks on Thursday night with the hopes that they can win two games at home which they have not done since they knocked off the Raptors and Grizzlies on December 26 and 28th.
