Beal was being cheeky, however the feeling pale after halftime and was changed with dread. Washington misplaced to the Portland Trail Blazers, 124-116, at Capital One Arena after surrendering the 20-point lead they held for a lot for the primary half.
Credit Portland guards Anfernee Simons and Damian Lillard for the turnaround.
With Simons and Lillard in rhythm after a gradual begin, Portland (26-26) torched a complacent Wizards’ squad with 9 three-pointers within the third quarter to gasoline a comeback effort and snap the hosts’ six-game winning streak.
Washington has an opportunity to get again on observe towards the Nets on Saturday in Brooklyn, the place the franchise was thrown into chaos once more Friday when Kyrie Irving, a starter within the league’s All-Star Game later this month, requested a commerce.
But earlier than shifting onto the Nets, the Wizards (24-27) needed to deal with what was in entrance of them.
In the primary half it regarded prefer it was going to be a straightforward evening of labor for Washington. The group constructed a double-digit lead lower than three minutes after tip-off and made it a 20-point hole with two minutes left within the first quarter. As they cruised, they flaunted and had a little bit of enjoyable — Beal with the snack stunt and Daniel Gafford with crowd-pleasing dunks.
Perhaps most spectacular was how they made Lillard — a seven-time all-star, together with this season — look mortal.
But the Wizards may have predicted that Lillard would get scorching. The guard entered the competition having put up spectacular numbers within the earlier 10 video games: he averaged 38 factors and shot 52.4 % from the sector, 40.7 % from the three-point arc (on 11.8 three-point makes an attempt per sport) and 95.9 % from the free throw line (the place he averaged 12.1 makes an attempt).
Lillard completed Friday with 29 factors whereas Simons led the group with 33.
Simons, a 23-year-old guard, made 9 three-pointers. Washington’s perimeter protection pale within the second half, losing good offensive performances from Beal (34 factors) and Kristaps Porzingis (32).
Washington fell brief regardless of taking pictures 50 % from the sector.
Backup ahead Anthony Gill remained within the league’s covid protocols Friday and nearly actually won’t journey with the group to Brooklyn.