Deandre Ayton had his best game of the season, scoring 34 points and grabbing 13 rebounds to help the Portland Trail Blazers defeat the Washington Wizards 108-102 on Friday night. This loss marked the Wizards’ 63rd of the season, matching their franchise record.
Dalano Banton contributed 21 points, while Scoot Henderson added 19 for Portland. Jabari Walker also played well, finishing with 11 points and 13 rebounds. These consecutive wins for the Trail Blazers come during a challenging seven-game road trip.
Ayton focused on his team’s improvement rather than dwelling on their tough season. He emphasized the importance of working hard to ensure a playoff spot next year.
The Wizards, now at 15-63 for the season, struggled from beyond the arc, shooting a season-low 15.2% from 3-point range. Despite making a late push to take the lead, they couldn’t maintain it, with consecutive missed 3-pointers from Jordan Poole allowing Portland to secure the victory.
Interim coach Brian Keefe acknowledged his team’s competitive spirit but emphasized the importance of focusing on the process of improvement rather than dwelling on losses. Deni Avdija led the Wizards with 22 points and 13 rebounds, while Poole contributed 20 points.
