Trail Blazers 79 - 83 Wizards
Final
  for this game

Blazers close out trek in DC

Dec 3, 2010 - 4:13 PM (Sports Network) - The reeling Portland Trail Blazers hope to salvage the finale of a four-game road trip tonight when they limp into the nation's capital to take on the Washington Wizards.

The Blazers dropped their fifth straight overall Wednesday in Boston when Ray Allen helped fend off a furious Portland rally in the final minutes, and Paul Pierce recorded one of the best shooting nights of his career in a 99-95 Boston victory over the struggling Blazers.

Allen's three-pointer with 10.7 seconds left stopped a 15-0 Portland run in the final five minutes that brought the Trail Blazers back from a 16-point deficit. The shot put the Celtics back up by four, which provided enough of a margin for the home team to hang on. Pierce, meanwhile, shot 9-of-11 from the field for 28 points to help the Celtics grab their fifth straight win. He shot 81.8 percent from the field, his fourth- highest total for a single game with a minimum of 10 field goals attempted.

Wesley Matthews scored 23 for the Blazers. Andre Miller contributed 20 points, while LaMarcus Aldridge and Brandon Roy both had 18 in defeat.

"What is this, five in a row? This game, too? I'm mad," Matthews said. "I was happy to see everybody's mad. Everybody's (upset). Hopefully, we can bring the tenacity on Friday."

Washington, meanwhile, continued to struggle mightily on the road on Wednesday, falling to a dismal 0-9 as the visitor after a 127-108 loss in Toronto. DeMar DeRozan scored 20 points in that one for the Raptors.

JaVale McGee led the Wizards with a game-high 21 points and John Wall, who missed the last two games with a bruised knee, added 19 points and eight assists in a reserve role for Washington, which has lost four straight overall. Andray Blatche scored 17 and Kirk Hinrich added 15 points in defeat.

Washington's 0-9 start on the road is the worst in franchise history.

"It's just embarrassing," said Wizards head coach Flip Saunders. "I know they will play a lot of games on the road but to play like that is embarrassing ... complete lack of effort ... being out rebounded by 20 in unacceptable."

Washington, which is a respectable 5-3 on its home floor, has drooped four of its past five meetings with Portland.






Related News