(Photo: Cameron Browne/NBAE via Getty Images)
Wizards 106
Blazers 92
December 5, 2017 | Moda Center | Portland, OR
Fresh off of their second worst less in team history, the Washington Wizards quickly fled Utah and looked to take their frustration out on the Portland Trail Blazers. The Wizards soon to be All-Star guard did that and then some as Washington had the best player on the court, especially in the second half. Unlike when the Wizards blew a 17-point fourth quarter lead two weeks ago at home, they held onto a 23-point lead on the road and left Portland with a 106-92 victory.
Bradley Beal Went Big Panda
By now you know. Bradley Beal had his best season in his NBA career with 51 points. His previous career-high was 42 points last season against Phoenix. Beal had 19 first half points and then played the entire second half where he was absolutely on fire with 32 points on 13 of 22 shooting. Overall, Beal shot 21 of 37, both also career-highs, including 5 of 12 from deep after not having a single three-pointer in the previous two games. Beal had more points against the Blazers (51) than his previous four games combined (50).
A Historic Night
With career-highs in points (51), field goals made (21), and field goals attempted (37), Beal was bound to add himself to some of the Wizards history books. Beal becomes the ninth player in team history to score 50 points in a game after, in chronological order, Earl Monroe, Phil Chenier, Moses Malone, Bernard King, Tracy Murray, Michael Jordan, Gilbert Arenas, and John Wall. Beal has the third most points in a game this season across the NBA after LeBron James (57) and James Harden (56). Beal’s 51 points is also the most Portland has allowed at home surpassing Kareem Abdul Jabbar’s 51 in 1972.
As for non-Beal career-nights, Marcin Gortat tied his career-high with seven assists without playing in the fourth quarter. Kelly Oubre Jr. had a career-high five steals.
Portland Made Their Runs and Washington Responded
When the Blazers overcame a 17-point fourth quarter deficit to upset the Wizard on the road last month, they made runs and the home team did nothing to stop them. Portland ended the game on a 10-0 run thanks to C.J. McCollum so a 23-point second half lead was not entirely safe in the rematch.
In the third quarter, the Blazers went on a 10-0 run, which was extended to 15-2 midway through the frame to cut the deficit to 10. Nurkic, Aminu, Lillard, and McCollum all scored in the four-minute stretch, while Washington couldn't seem to buy a bucket for the stretch. The Wizards quickly responded with a 9-0 run to shut that comeback down immediately.
Late in the third quarter and into the fourth, Portland went on a 13-4 run to cut the deficit to single-digits and then Washington put together another 9-0 shortly thereafter. The home team then put together a 14-2 run with less than five minutes to go to again pull within 9, but the road team then came back with five straight points to close things out for good.
Starting Front Court Struggled
If I told you that the trio of Otto Porter Jr., Markieff Morris, and Marcin Gortat combined for 14 points on 4 of 24 shooting (16.7 percent), you might think that they only scored 69 points again without John Wall. The three miss five shots right around the rim and another seven in the rest of the paint. On the bright side, they contributed in other ways with 21 rebounds, nine assists, five blocks, and four steals. Oubre and Mike Scott made up for the inefficient scoring from the starting bigs with 24 points on 11 of 14 shooting.
Active Defense Starts Wizards Off Right
The Wizards finished with a season-high 16 steals and turned the Blazers over 19 times, which the road team converted into 23 points. Those numbers are not the most impressive takeaway from the box score, but 12 of those steals came in the first half where Portland had 14 turnovers resulted in 16 of Washington 51 first half points. The Wizards also had six blocks and numerous more shot altering actions that caused the Blazers to miss plenty of shots close to the rim in the first half. Until Beal fully got into All-Star mode, it was Washington’s defense that put them on the path to success.
Next Game: On Thursday, the Wizards will face the Suns who embarrassed them back in D.C. a month ago. Phoenix potentially could be without sharpshooting Devin Booker who was carried off the floor on Tuesday after a non-contact injury.