The Portland Trail Blazers ventured cautiously into Monday night’s meeting with the Washington Wizards despite them being in the running for the NBA’s worst record.
But unlike many nights this season when facing a lesser team, the Blazers didn’t take the Wizards lightly and won 112-97 at the Moda Center.
Anfernee Simons led the Blazers with 30 points on 10-of-17 shooting and made 5 of 11 three-point attempts. Shaedon Sharpe scored 16 points and forward Deni Avdija added 15.
The Wizards' recent play did not reflect their 15-52 record. They had won six of 10 entering Monday and were coming off victories Saturday at Denver (43-25) and Thursday at Detroit (38-31).
Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said before Monday’s game that the Blazers were not good enough to overlook any team, and that became more true when forward Toumani Camara was ruled out with right calf soreness.
The Wizards came out energetic, took an early lead, and then fell back a bit. With 3:39 remaining in the second quarter, the score stood at 43-43, before the Blazers closed the half with a 16-6 run to lead 59-49 at halftime.
In the third quarter, Sharpe followed a missed three-point attempt from Simons with a dunk to put the Blazers up 74-59 with 7:21 on the clock. Sharpe and Simons each scored seven points in the quarter won 30-21 by the Blazers, who led 89-70 entering the fourth.
The Blazers had 15 steals, one short of their season-best of 16, which they’ve done twice.
Washington Wizards v Portland Trail Blazers
Deni Avdija #8 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket during the first quarter of the game against the Washington Wizards at the Moda Center on March 17, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)Getty Images
WHAT IT MEANS
The Blazers (30-39) moved to within three games of 10th-place Dallas (33-36), off Monday. The 11th-place Phoenix Suns (32-37) won 129-89 over Toronto and now trail the Mavericks by one game. Phoenix leads the Blazers by two games.
Dallas has lost 10 of their last 12 games.
The Wizards conclude their seven-game trip Wednesday at Utah (15-53).
REATH MAKES IMPACT
The Blazers trailed by as much as eight points in the first quarter. But Duop Reath came off the bench and hit a three to put the Blazers up 25-24. Soon after, Reath hit a second three to put the Blazers up 31-24 with 30 seconds remaining in the quarter.
Washington Wizards v Portland Trail Blazers
Duop Reath #26 of the Portland Trail Blazers drives to the basket against Alex Sarr #20 of the Washington Wizards during the first quarter of the game at the Moda Center on March 17, 2025 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Alika Jenner/Getty Images)Getty Images
With three seconds on the clock, he blocked a shot attempt by Justin Champagnie.
Reath finished the night with 15 points on 5-of-11 shooting (3 of 6 from three), four rebounds, three assists, a steal and a blocked shot.
MURRAY STARTS
With Camara and Jerami Grant (knee) out, Billups started forward Kris Murray. He scored just five points on 2-of-8 shooting, but added 10 rebounds, three assists and four steals.
THYBULLE SWIPES
Matisse Thybulle, who made his season debut in Sunday’s win over Toronto and had a blocked shot as time expired to seal the win, came off the bench against the Wizards to record five steals in 22 minutes. He also scored nine points, had four rebounds and three assists.
NEXT UP
The Blazers host the Memphis Grizzlies (43-26) at 7 p.m. Wednesday.
-- Aaron Fentress | afentress@Oregonian.com | @AaronJFentress (Twitter), @AaronJFentress (Instagram), @AaronFentress (Facebook)