Washington Wizards at Portland Trail Blazers

· National Basketball Association

Washington Wizards

5-22, 3-14 Away

Final
118 - 117

Portland Trail Blazers

7-20, 3-10 Home

Kyle Kuzma scores 32 points, Wizards hold off Trail Blazers 118-117 for 5th win

Scoot Henderson dimes Jerami Grant for 3

Tyus Jones added 16 points, Daniel Gafford had 14 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Poole and Deni Advija each had 11 points. Washington is 5-22.

“We showed a little bit of mental and physical fortitude to make enough plays to win the game,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “It’s great to come away from a win, regardless of how you get it.”

Anfernee Simons scored 22 of his 41 points for Portland in the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Jerami Grant added 20 points. Grant missed a driving layup at the buzzer, dropping the Trail Blazers to 7-20.

Washington opened with an 8-0 run, with Portland turning it over three times in the first 1:30. Things didn’t get much cleaner from there for the Trail Blazers, who had 15 turnovers that led to 21 Washington points.

“The first half, we came out terrible,” Portland coach Chauncey Billups said. “We talked about it all day, we tried to prepare the guys for it, knowing the pace they play is difficult. They get up and down and run.”

The Wizards led by 18 in the second half before Portland rallied behind Simons to tie it. Washington regained the lead again and Portland, after a successful challenge overturning a foul on Matisse Thybulle, had the ball with 5.8 seconds remaining trailing by one. Grant then missed his driving layup at the buzzer.

Wizards: At Golden State on Friday night.

Trail Blazers: At Golden State on Saturday night.

Regular Season Series

WSH leads series 1-0

Recent Plays

4th 0.0	End of Game	118 - 117
4th 0.0	End of the 4th Quarter	118 - 117
4th 0.0	Deandre Ayton offensive rebound	118 - 117
4th 0.0	Jerami Grant misses two point shot	118 - 117
4th 5.1	Mike Muscala enters the game for Corey Kispert	118 - 117

Statistics

WSH		POR
42-84	FG	43-95
50	Field Goal %	45
12-30	3PT	14-30
40	Three Point %	47
22-32	FT	17-23
69	Free Throw %	74
37	Rebounds	51
7	Offensive Rebounds	20
30	Defensive Rebounds	31
26	Assists	24
9	Steals	7
6	Blocks	6
11	Turnovers	15
1	Team Turnovers	1
12	Total Turnovers	16
3	Technical Fouls	0
3	Total Technical Fouls	0
0	Flagrant Fouls	0
15	Points Conceded Off Turnovers	21
23	Fast Break Points	8
56	Points in Paint	50
17	Fouls	27
18	Largest Lead	0