The Portland Trail Blazers’ red-hot January is suddenly heading toward an ice-cold February.
The Blazers suffered perhaps their worst loss of the season Tuesday night, falling 115-111 to the woeful Washington Wizards before 13,852 at Capital One Center.
It didn’t matter that Deni Avdija returned after a two-game injury absence. Or that Donovan Clingan had a record-setting performance. Or that Rayan Rupert provided an unexpected two-way boost off the bench.
The Blazers were just plain bad in Washington, D.C.
“It was a disappointing game by us tonight,” Blazers acting coach Tiago Splitter told reporters after the game.
The rebuilding Wizards — who feature the second-youngest roster in the NBA — brought the longest-active losing streak (nine games) and the worst record in the NBA into Tuesday night’s game. But the struggling youngsters upstaged the up-and-coming Blazers.
The Wizards started hot, shooting 55% from three-point range in the first half. They showcased athleticism and hunger, snatching 10 steals, forcing 20 turnovers and scoring 25 fast-break points. And they were clutch down the stretch, using two key late shots, a swarm of last-minute free throws and sturdy late-game defense to earn a win against a team that has played the second-most clutch games in the NBA this season.
Kyshawn George did a little bit of everything, recording 19 points, nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Alex Sarr finished with 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks in an intriguing battle between two of the best young centers in the NBA. And veteran Khris Middleton added 19 points, six rebounds and five assists as the Wizards (11-34) won for just the third time since New Year’s Eve.
In the end, the Blazers (23-25) were undone by their own sloppiness (20 turnovers), shaky shooting (37% from three-point range) and misfires down the stretch.
Portland made just 3 of 10 shots over the final 3:10, with the biggest coming off the fingertips of Shaedon Sharpe in the closing seconds.
The Wizards held a tenuous 113-111 after George made 1 of 2 free throws with 15.5 seconds left. After a timeout, Toumani Camara inbounded the ball to Sharpe on the perimeter and the Blazers’ starting shooting guard darted toward the hoop, elevating for a step-back elbow jumper over Jamir Watkins with about 10 seconds left.
The shot barely grazed the front of the iron and fell into the arms of Middleton. He was fouled and drained two free throws with 6.5 seconds left to ice the game for the Wizards, who earned just their seventh clutch-time win this season.
It spoiled a monster performance by Clingan and a homecoming for Avdija, who played in Washington, D.C., for the first time since he was traded from the Wizards to the Blazers two years ago.
Clingan was a beast most of the night, finishing with 14 points and a career-high 20 rebounds, which included 13 offensive rebounds — the most in franchise history.
Avdija, who had missed five of the previous seven games with a lower back sprain, was not as productive. He scored 17 points and snared 14 rebounds, but committed six turnovers and made just 6 of 14 shots. Avdija, who was limited to 31 minutes, also made just 2 of 6 free throws, which was fitting for a team that made just 13 of 23 (57%) overall.
“It’s not easy, it takes time,” Splitter told reporters, referring to Avdija. “It wasn’t his best game, but he’s going to get better. He had too many turnovers. He knows that. We’re going to watch film, get better, get better spacing and go from there.”
And, just like that, a hope-inspiring January that featured nine wins over the first 11 games is fading as the Blazers approach February.
Next up: The Blazers finish their three-game East Coast trip Friday at 4:30 p.m. against the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden.