Blazers rally from 20 down to end Wizards' win streak
WASHINGTON (AP) Anfernee Simons scored 20 of his 33 points in the third quarter and the Portland Trail Blazers erased a 20-point deficit, snapping Washington's six-game winning streak Friday night with a 124-116 victory over the Wizards.
Simons made six of Portland's nine 3-pointers in the third, and the Trail Blazers finally caught and passed the Wizards in the fourth. Simons finished 9 of 12 from beyond the arc.
Damian Lillard added 29 points for Portland, which has won five of six.
''Our team is just so much better when our backs are against the wall,'' Trail Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said. ''I've been on teams like that before, so I understand it, but it's a dangerous place to live.''
Bradley Beal scored 34 points for the Wizards, and Kristaps Porzingis had 32.
Washington led 69-51 at halftime, but an advantage like that isn't totally safe against a backcourt that can shoot 3s like Portland's. After a layup by Josh Hart to start the third quarter, the Trail Blazers' next nine field goals came from long distance. The first five were by Simons, then Lillard made a couple and Jerami Grant hit one.
Another 3 by Simons cut the deficit to 88-81.
''We ran plays for him. We started off the third quarter kind of running his play,'' Billups said. ''He came off and got a couple looks, and then I thought Dame and Josh and those guys, they all just did a really good job of continuing to keep the ball in his hands.''
It was 94-90 after three, and Portland finally tied it at 99 on a 3 by Shaedon Sharpe. A 3 by Hart gave the Trail Blazers their first lead, 102-101. Portland was up by two before breaking the game open with a 13-4 run. A dunk by Simons made it 120-111 with 1:25 to play.
Portland played without center Jusuf Nurkic, sidelined because of a left calf strain. He's expected back after the All-Star break.
The Wizards jumped out to an early 15-2 lead, and they led 34-14 after a 3-pointer by Porzingis. He scored 16 points in the opening quarter.
SUPPORTING PLAYERS
Hart and Trendon Watford scored 21 points apiece for Portland.
Watford's point total was a season high. He hadn't been playing much before this past week. This was his first time scoring in double figures since Dec. 16.
''Staying ready, that's my job,'' Watford said. ''I think that's where a lot of young players mess up - just not being ready when the opportunity comes.''
TIP-INS
Trail Blazers: In addition to Nurkic, Portland was also without F Justise Winslow (left ankle sprain) and C Ibou Badji (left knee soreness). ... Portland outscored Memphis 38-22 in the fourth quarter in a win Wednesday night. Then the Trail Blazers outscored the Wizards 34-22 in the fourth and 73-47 in the second half.
Wizards: F Anthony Gill (health and safety protocols) missed the game. ... The Wizards haven't won seven straight since an eight-game streak in April 2021.
UP NEXT
Trail Blazers: At Chicago on Saturday.
Wizards: At Brooklyn on Saturday.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Drew Eubanks vs. Kristaps Porzingis (Monte Morris gains possession) | ||
| 11:45 | | Bradley Beal misses two point floating jump shot | ||
| 11:40 | | Bradley Beal offensive rebound | ||
| 11:40 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point tip layup | 0-2 |
| 11:28 |  | Damian Lillard misses two point fadeaway bank jump shot | ||
| 11:26 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 11:17 | | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 11:17 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-3 |
| 11:17 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-4 |
| 11:06 | | Damian Lillard misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 11:03 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 10:53 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point cutting dunk (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 0-6 |
| 10:35 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point fadeaway jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 2-6 |
| 10:14 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point turnaround jump shot | 2-8 |
| 9:54 | | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:51 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 9:38 | | Jerami Grant shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 9:38 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 2-9 |
| 9:38 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 2-10 |
| 9:25 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:22 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 9:14 | | +3 | Bradley Beal makes three point jump shot (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 2-13 |
| 9:10 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 8:55 | | Drew Eubanks misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 8:52 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 8:43 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point bank jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 2-15 |
| 8:18 | | Jerami Grant misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 8:15 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 8:04 | | Kyle Kuzma misses three point jump shot | ||
| 8:01 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 7:57 | | +3 | Damian Lillard makes three point jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 5-15 |
| 7:30 | | Monte Morris turnover (bad pass) (Drew Eubanks steals) | ||
| 7:10 | | Anfernee Simons misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:08 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 6:52 | | Monte Morris misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:49 | | Drew Eubanks defensive rebound | ||
| 6:43 | | +2 | Josh Hart makes two point driving reverse layup | 7-15 |
| 6:24 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 6:21 | | Jerami Grant defensive rebound | ||
| 6:17 | | Anfernee Simons turnover (out of bounds step) | ||
| 6:04 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point pullup jump shot (Monte Morris assists) | 7-17 |
| 5:49 | | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:43 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 5:41 | | Damian Lillard personal foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 5:33 | | Deni Avdija misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 5:31 | | Jerami Grant defensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | Bradley Beal shooting foul (Jerami Grant draws the foul) | ||
| 5:29 | | Jerami Grant misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 5:29 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 5:29 | | +1 | Jerami Grant makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 8-17 |
| 5:10 | | +2 | Corey Kispert makes two point driving layup (Kristaps Porzingis assists) | 8-19 |
| 5:04 | | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point pullup jump shot | 10-19 |
| 4:53 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point stepback jump shot | 10-21 |
| 4:32 | | +2 | Jerami Grant makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-21 |
| 4:17 | | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 4:17 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 12-22 |
| 4:17 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-23 |
| 4:05 | | Damian Lillard turnover (bad pass) (Delon Wright steals) | ||
| 4:00 | | +2 | Corey Kispert makes two point running layup (Deni Avdija assists) | 12-25 |
| 3:44 | | Jerami Grant misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 3:41 | | Delon Wright defensive rebound | ||
| 3:31 | | Deni Avdija misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:28 | | Delon Wright offensive rebound | ||
| 3:27 | | Delon Wright turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 3:15 | | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:12 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 3:01 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 12-28 |
| 2:42 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point turnaround bank jump shot | 14-28 |
| 2:28 | | +3 | Corey Kispert makes three point jump shot (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 14-31 |
| 2:12 | | Damian Lillard misses two point driving reverse layup | ||
| 2:09 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound | ||
| 2:02 | | +3 | Kristaps Porzingis makes three point jump shot (Delon Wright assists) | 14-34 |
| 2:01 | | Trail Blazers 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:51 | | +3 | Anfernee Simons makes three point pullup jump shot (Trendon Watford assists) | 17-34 |
| 1:27 | | Kyle Kuzma misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 1:22 | | Shaedon Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 1:09 | | Nassir Little misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:04 | | Shaedon Sharpe offensive rebound | ||
| 1:02 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 0:57 | | Nassir Little offensive rebound | ||
| 0:54 | | Jump ball. Nassir Little vs. Corey Kispert (Trail Blazers gains possession) | ||
| 0:44 | | Trendon Watford misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | ||
| 0:41 | | Daniel Gafford defensive rebound | ||
| 0:29 | | Deni Avdija misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:27 | | Trail Blazers defensive rebound | ||
| 0:05 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point floating jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 19-34 |
| 0:00 | | Trendon Watford shooting foul (Kyle Kuzma draws the foul) | ||
| 0:00 | | +1 | Kyle Kuzma makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 19-35 |
| 0:00 | | +1 | Kyle Kuzma makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-36 |
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:44 | | Jabari Walker misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:41 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | Kyle Kuzma misses two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Anfernee Simons defensive rebound | ||
| 11:10 | | Anfernee Simons misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:06 | | Jabari Walker offensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | Jabari Walker misses two point putback layup | ||
| 11:06 | | Trail Blazers offensive rebound | ||
| 11:05 | | Delon Wright kicked ball violation | ||
| 11:01 | | Shaedon Sharpe misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:57 | | Kyle Kuzma defensive rebound | ||
| 10:56 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point running layup (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 19-38 |
| 10:43 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point driving floating jump shot (Anfernee Simons assists) | 21-38 |
| 10:20 | | Kendrick Nunn misses three point jump shot | ||
| 10:15 | | Shaedon Sharpe defensive rebound | ||
| 10:09 | | Delon Wright personal foul (Trendon Watford draws the foul) | ||
| 10:09 | | Trendon Watford offensive foul (Delon Wright draws the foul) | ||
| 10:09 | | Trendon Watford turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 9:57 | | Kyle Kuzma misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 9:53 | | Nassir Little defensive rebound | ||
| 9:43 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point hook shot | 23-38 |
| 9:30 | | +3 | Kendrick Nunn makes three point jump shot (Daniel Gafford assists) | 23-41 |
| 9:11 | | Nassir Little misses three point jump shot | ||
| 9:09 | | Kendrick Nunn defensive rebound | ||
| 9:03 | | +2 | Corey Kispert makes two point driving layup (Kendrick Nunn assists) | 23-43 |
| 9:03 | | Shaedon Sharpe defensive goaltending violation | ||
| 8:46 | | +3 | Trendon Watford makes three point jump shot (Damian Lillard assists) | 26-43 |
| 8:32 | | +3 | Kendrick Nunn makes three point jump shot (Kyle Kuzma assists) | 26-46 |
| 8:12 | | +2 | Trendon Watford makes two point driving floating jump shot (Jerami Grant assists) | 28-46 |
| 7:58 | | Delon Wright misses two point driving bank hook shot | ||
| 7:55 | | Jerami Grant defensive rebound | ||
| 7:53 | | Kendrick Nunn shooting foul (Josh Hart draws the foul) | ||
| 7:53 | | +1 | Josh Hart makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 29-46 |
| 7:53 | | +1 | Josh Hart makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 30-46 |
| 7:28 | | Deni Avdija misses two point layup | ||
| 7:26 | | Daniel Gafford offensive rebound | ||
| 7:24 | | +2 | Daniel Gafford makes two point putback dunk | 30-48 |
| 7:04 | | Damian Lillard misses three point jump shot | ||
| 7:04 | | Wizards defensive rebound | ||
| 6:40 | | Bradley Beal misses two point reverse layup | ||
| 6:37 | | Bradley Beal offensive rebound | ||
| 6:37 | | +2 | Bradley Beal makes two point tip layup | 30-50 |
| 6:25 | | Trendon Watford misses two point turnaround jump shot | ||
| 6:23 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 6:17 | | Kendrick Nunn misses three point running jump shot | ||
| 6:13 | | Jerami Grant defensive rebound | ||
| 5:59 | | Josh Hart misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:56 | | Deni Avdija defensive rebound | ||
| 5:51 | | Kristaps Porzingis misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:47 | | Trendon Watford defensive rebound | ||
| 5:35 | | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point driving layup | 32-50 |
| 5:35 | | Deni Avdija shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | ||
| 5:35 | | Wizards 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:35 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-50 |
| 5:23 | | +2 | Kristaps Porzingis makes two point layup (Bradley Beal assists) | 33-52 |
| 5:23 | | Drew Eubanks shooting foul (Kristaps Porzingis draws the foul) | ||
| 5:23 | | +1 | Kristaps Porzingis makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 33-53 |
| 5:04 | | +2 | Damian Lillard makes two point driving layup (Anfernee Simons assists) | 35-53 |
| 5:04 | | Deni Avdija shooting foul (Damian Lillard draws the foul) | ||
| 5:04 | | +1 | Damian Lillard makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 36-53 |
| 4:46 | | Drew Eubanks blocks Deni Avdija's two point reverse layup | ||
| 4:43 | | Josh Hart defensive rebound | ||
| 4:39 | | Damian Lillard misses three point running pullup jump shot | ||
| 4:35 | | Kristaps Porzingis defensive rebound |