The Washington Wizards will aim to avoid setting a new franchise record for consecutive losses when they face the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The Wizards have now lost 16 games in a row, matching a franchise record set in the 2009-10 season. They are currently in last place in the Eastern Conference, but coach Brian Keefe believes this is all part of the learning process for a young team.
“These guys believe in what we’re doing, they believe in the process,” Keefe said Thursday night after a 137-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “We’re building some habits that are important and we have to build them when times are tough. Every team has their moments, it’s how you deal with those moments, but I’ve always believed in the character of our team.”
Out of the 16 losses, only one has been by less than 10 points, a nine-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 13. Three of the last four losses have been by 25 points or more.
This is the second straight season the Wizards have lost 16 games in a row, making them one of only six NBA teams to have such long losing streaks in consecutive seasons. The record for the longest losing streak in a single season is 28 games, set by the Detroit Pistons last year.
Wizards second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly has especially struggled. He was 0-of-10 from the field against the Mavericks, and in the past four games, he is 4-of-31 from the field and 1-of-12 from 3-point range.
Keefe remains confident in Coulibaly.
“I think he’s a little out of rhythm, sometimes different things can cause some of that,” Keefe said. “Sometimes you have to go through those things in a season and in your career. I have great faith in his character and who he is. He will get out of this.”
Jordan Poole leads the Wizards with 20 points and five assists per game. No. 1 pick Alexandre Sarr is averaging 10.6 points per game and playing 26.8 minutes per game. The Wizards also face the toughest schedule in the league this month, according to NBA.com.
“I embrace the challenges,” Keefe said. “The schedule is the schedule. You have to go after it and I think that’s what our group is about.”
The Nuggets have been alternating wins and losses over their past eight games and are ranked eighth in the Western Conference. They allowed 22 three-pointers in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night while making only six themselves.
Denver has yet to find the rhythm that made them an NBA powerhouse in the past two seasons.
“We’re a team that’s trying to find itself,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I think everyone has to own where they’re at, where we’re at, and it starts with me as the head coach to look in the mirror and say what can I do better and how can I help this team more.”
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets with 29.9 points and tops the NBA with 13.4 rebounds. Five different Nuggets are averaging at least 15 points per game, but defensively, the team ranks 24th in the NBA, allowing 116.8 points per game.
This will be the 101st matchup between the two teams. Denver has won the last six games in the series.
