Blazers Aim for Third Straight Win Against Struggling Wizards

WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Portland Trail Blazers will look to capitalize on a favorable stretch in their schedule when they face the Washington Wizards at Capital One Arena on Wednesday at 7 p.m. ET. After securing wins against the Charlotte Hornets and Utah Jazz over the past week, the Blazers (25-33) are seeking their third consecutive victory against a Wizards team that has struggled this season and holds the worst record in the NBA.

The Blazers started their current run with a dominating 141-88 victory at home against the Hornets, followed by a narrow 114-112 win against the Jazz on Monday. Conversely, the Wizards (10-47) recently snapped a six-game losing streak with a 107-99 triumph over the Brooklyn Nets. Their win was largely attributed to Jordan Poole, who scored 26 points while hitting 5 of 8 attempts from three-point range.

Portland currently trails the Sacramento Kings (29-28) by 4.5 games for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference. Meanwhile, the Wizards sit at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Washington has had an uphill battle this season, ranking last in offensive rating at 105.5 and 29th in defensive rating at 118.1. Poole’s performance appears vital for the Wizards’ chances, as he maintains a significantly higher shooting percentage in wins compared to losses.

Despite their record, the Wizards have seen improvement, with four of their ten victories this month. After an encouraging month started with road wins against the Charlotte Hornets and the Indiana Pacers, they currently aim to build on the momentum from their latest win.

In the matchup against Portland, the Wizards will miss key players including Saddiq Bey (knee) and Malcolm Brogdon (ankle), and have Alex Sarr listed as questionable with an ankle injury. The Blazers are also facing injury challenges, with Robert Williams III (knee), Deandre Ayton (calf), and Matisse Thybulle (ankle) unable to play.

The Blazers are favored by 6.5 points according to recent betting lines, which place the over/under at 232.5. Portland hopes to maintain its momentum, especially with the upcoming game against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday looming.

“We just need to stick to our game plan and take advantage of the opportunities they give us,” Blazers guard Anfernee Simons said. “Every game matters right now, and we’re focused on getting these wins.”

As the teams prepare for the tip-off, all eyes will be on how well the Trail Blazers can execute their strategy against a Wizards team desperate for consistency and better play in the latter part of the season.