The Washington Wizards had a shot at stringing together their first winning streak of the season on Thursday night, but the San Antonio Spurs had other plans-and they made that crystal clear in the second half. The final score, 119-94, tells the story of a game that started with promise but unraveled quickly after halftime.
Early on, Washington showed some fight. They didn’t lead at any point in the first half, but they didn’t let the game get away from them either.
The Wizards stayed within striking distance, trailing by just four at the break, 57-53. It was the kind of gritty, stay-in-it performance we’ve seen from them throughout the season-close but not quite enough.
One bright spot: the return of Alex Sarr. After missing six games with a right adductor strain, the rookie big man didn’t just ease back into the lineup-he looked like he never left.
Sarr poured in 14 points on 6-of-9 shooting in the first half alone, showing off that smooth mobility and touch around the rim that had fans excited before the injury. Whether it was slipping into space for easy finishes or confidently attacking the paint, Sarr looked sharp and in rhythm.
Coming out of the locker room, the Wizards briefly flipped the script. A quick 5-0 run gave them a 58-57 lead-their first and only of the night.
But that advantage vanished almost as quickly as it appeared. The Spurs responded with a 25-10 burst over the next six minutes, and from there, things spiraled.
San Antonio’s lead swelled to 26, and the Wizards simply didn’t have the firepower to claw back.
By the final buzzer, it was a 25-point loss for Washington, who once again showed flashes of progress but couldn’t sustain it against a deeper, more polished opponent.
Still, Sarr’s return was the headline for the Wizards. He finished with 18 points and four rebounds in 24 minutes, a strong showing that should give the team and fans something to build on.
Bub Carrington also continued to show growth in his fourth straight start, putting up 15 points, five boards, and three assists. His poise and decision-making are starting to catch up with his natural talent.
Not everyone had it going, though. Tre Johnson had a tough night off the bench, scoring just eight points on 2-of-9 shooting in 24 minutes. The rookie guard has shown flashes this season, but Thursday wasn’t one of those nights.
The Wizards will try to regroup quickly as they continue their road trip with a matchup against the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. With Sarr back in the mix and young players logging meaningful minutes, Washington is still in the thick of its developmental journey. But if they want to start stacking wins, they’ll need to find a way to turn those competitive first halves into complete games.