Skip to main content

Sarr’s big night helps the Wizards snap a 9-game skid with a 115-111 win over Portland

WASHINGTON (AP) — Alex Sarr had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocked shots, and the Washington Wizards snapped a nine-game losing streak with a 115-111 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.

It was Washington’s first home victory over Portland since Jan. 16, 2017.

The Wizards led 112-106 when Shaedon Sharpe cut the lead in half with a 3-pointer. After Bub Carrington tossed up an air ball for Washington, Sharpe’s dunk with 20.5 seconds left cut the lead to one.

Kyshawn George made one of two free throws with 15.5 seconds to play, putting the Wizards up 113-111. After a timeout, Sharpe’s contested jumper missed, and Khris Middleton’s free throws made it a four-point game.

Sharpe scored 31 points for Portland, which lost despite a 69-46 advantage in rebounds. The Trail Blazers shot just 13 of 23 on free throws.

The 7-foot-1 Sarr attempted a career-high 29 field goals, making 11. It was quite a battle of young big men between him and 7-foot-3 Donovan Clingan, who had 14 points and 20 rebounds for Portland. Ex-Wizard Deni Avdija had 17 points and 12 rebounds for the Blazers.

The Wizards led 60-53 at halftime, but Portland was up 104-100 before an 8-0 Washington run. Carrington’s three-point play and a 3-pointer by George gave the Wizards the lead for good.

Avdija and Washington’s Bilal Coulibaly both returned after missing time with back issues.

Portland had 29 offensive rebounds and finished with a 31-14 advantage in second-chance points.

Up next

Trail Blazers: At New York on Friday night.

Wizards: Host Milwaukee on Thursday night.

___

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

Peterson, Dybantsa, Boozer and Wilson wait to see who goes first in the NBA draft

CHICAGO (AP) — Darryn Peterson and AJ Dybantsa had an epic showdown in high school, crossed paths in college and could be the top two picks in this year's NBA draft after starring at Kansas and BYU. That's if Duke's Cameron Boozer and North Carolina's Caleb Wilson don't have something to say about it. All four are considered potential stars and a clear cut above the rest in a loaded draft class. What remains to be seen is the order they will be taken. The Washington Wizards hold the No. 1 pick for the first time since they drafted John Wall in 2010. Utah, Memphis and Chicago round out the top four. “It would mean a lot,” Dybantsa said Wednesday at the NBA draft combine of being picked first. “It would just mean that all my hard work is paying off. All the countless hours and all the sacrifices I made have paid off.”
Read Next Story