The Portland Trail Blazers dropped their third straight game on Monday night, falling 115-111 to the Washington Wizards in a matchup that felt like a missed opportunity from start to finish. While the Wizards snapped a nine-game losing streak, the Blazers were left to stew over another close loss that slipped through their fingers-this one marked by missed free throws, turnovers, and a second quarter they'd probably like to erase from memory.
Shaedon Sharpe Shines, But It’s Not Enough
Shaedon Sharpe put on a show in D.C., dropping 31 points and hitting big shots throughout the night to keep Portland in the fight. When Sharpe gets rolling, it's like watching a spark catch fire-he can heat up in a hurry and take over a game.
And for long stretches, that’s exactly what he did. But when the final minutes demanded a closer, Sharpe and the Blazers came up short.
It wasn’t for lack of effort, but the execution just didn’t hold up when it mattered most.
On the other side, Alex Sarr was the go-to guy for the Wizards, finishing with 29 points. His shooting line-11-of-29-wasn’t the most efficient, but he found ways to impact the game and kept the pressure on Portland’s defense all night. Sarr’s ability to create his own shot and stay aggressive was key in helping Washington finally put an end to their losing skid.
Missed Free Throws and Turnovers Prove Costly
If you’re looking for the stat that tells the story of the night, you’ve got options-and none of them are good for Portland. The Blazers went just 13-of-23 from the free-throw line.
That’s 57% in a game they lost by four points. You don’t need a calculator to know that’s a problem.
Then there were the turnovers. Portland coughed it up 20 times, leading directly to 29 Wizards points.
That’s a brutal margin to give up in a game that stayed within striking distance the entire way. Even with some strong moments-like 29 offensive rebounds, including a monster 13-board night on the offensive glass from Donovan Clingan-the Blazers couldn’t cash in.
That rebounding effort would’ve been the headline if they’d pulled out the win. Instead, it’s just a footnote in another frustrating loss.
A Tale of Two Quarters
Portland came out with energy, taking the first quarter 28-26. But the second quarter was a different story entirely.
The Blazers unraveled, plagued by missed free throws (just 4-of-12 in the first half) and 14 turnovers before halftime. That opened the door for Washington to take a 60-53 lead into the break, and even though Portland battled back, they never fully recovered.
Interestingly, the Blazers actually shot better from the field (44%) and from three (37%) than they did from the free-throw line. That’s not a recipe for winning basketball in the NBA, where free throws are supposed to be the easy ones.
Deni Avdija Continues to Deliver
The trade that sent Deni Avdija to Portland continues to look like a win for the Blazers. Despite still dealing with a lingering back issue, Avdija turned in another well-rounded performance: 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 3 assists. He’s become a steady contributor who does a little bit of everything, and his presence has been a bright spot during a tough stretch for Portland.
Broadcast Gold from Evan Turner
Evan Turner was on the call for the Blazers' broadcast, and he didn’t disappoint. The former Blazer brought his signature mix of insight and humor, including a gem of a quote describing a powerful post move by Clingan: “Basketball is a primal sport.
You see food, you eat it.” That’s vintage Turner-unfiltered, entertaining, and spot-on.
Rupert and Hansen Make Their Mark
Rayan Rupert made the most of his first-half minutes, packing the stat sheet with 7 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 steals in just 7 minutes. His energy was contagious, and he looked like a player hungry for a bigger role. Performances like that don’t go unnoticed, especially on a team still figuring out its rotation.
And then there was Yang Hansen, the 20-year-old center from China, who stepped in with backup big man Robert Williams III unavailable. Hansen logged 12 minutes, finishing with 6 points and 5 rebounds while posting a +8 in the first half.
Modest numbers, sure, but meaningful in the context of a tight game and a short-handed frontcourt. For a young player still finding his footing, those are the kinds of minutes that build trust with the coaching staff.
The Bottom Line
This was a winnable game for the Blazers. They had the talent on the floor, the hustle on the boards, and a standout performance from Sharpe.
But the little things-missed free throws, careless turnovers, and a rough second quarter-added up to another loss. There were flashes of promise, especially from the young guys off the bench, but Portland will need to clean up the fundamentals if they want to turn close games into wins.