Alex Sarr had 29 points, 12 rebounds and six blocks as the Washington Wizards ended their nine-game losing streak with a 115-111 win over the visiting Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesday night.
Khris Middleton and Kyshawn George scored 19 points apiece for Washington, which won for the first time since Jan. 6. Tre Johnson added 18 and Bub Carrington had 11.
Washington won despite being outrebounded 69-46 in a game that featured six ties and 19 lead changes.
George drilled a 3-pointer and made two free throws during an 8-0 run to give Washington a 108-104 lead with 2:24 remaining.
Portland pulled within 112-109 on Shaedon Sharpe’s 3-pointer with 54 seconds left, and Sharpe’s dunk with 21 seconds remaining made it a one-point game.
George made one of two free throws to put the Wizards ahead 113-111 with 15 seconds left.
Sharpe missed a jumper with Jamir Watkins defending following a timeout, and Washington sealed the victory when Middleton made two free throws with 6.5 seconds left.
Sharpe led Portland with 31 points. Deni Avdija had 17 points and 12 rebounds, Toumani Camara scored 16 points, Donovan Clingan had 14 points and 20 rebounds, and Rayan Rupert chipped in 10 points.
Portland has lost three straight following a four-game winning streak.
The Trail Blazers led 28-26 at the end of the first quarter in the matchup between two of the youngest teams in the league.
Bilal Coulibaly returned after missing five games with lower back stiffness and capped a 16-0 run with a 3-pointer to put the Wizards ahead 47-38 with 5:06 left in the first half.
Sarr scored 19 points in the first half to help give Washington a 60-53 lead at intermission. Sharpe had 12 points to lead the Trail Blazers.
The Wizards led 73-67 with 6:48 left in the third quarter before the Trail Blazers rallied to move ahead 87-86 at the end of the period.
