Blazers come up short against Wizards, lose 118-117

PORTLAND — Kyle Kuzma scored 32 points and the Washington Wizards held off the Portland Trail Blazers 118-117 on Thursday night for their fifth victory of the season.

Tyus Jones added 16 points, Daniel Gafford had 14 points and eight rebounds and Jordan Poole and Deni Advija each had 11 points. Washington is 5-22.

Anfernee Simons scored 22 of his 41 points for Portland in the fourth quarter. Deandre Ayton had 23 points and 10 rebounds and Jerami Grant added 20 points. The Trail Blazers are 7-20.

Washington opened with an 8-0 run, with Portland turning it over three times in the first 1:30. Things didn’t get much cleaner from there for the Blazers, who had 15 turnovers that led to 21 Washington points.

The Wizards led by 18 in the second half before Portland rallied behind Simons to tie it. Washington regained the lead again and Portland, after a successful challenge overturning a foul on Matisse Thybulle, had the ball with 5.8 seconds remaining trailing by one. Grant then missed a driving layup at the buzzer.

UP NEXT

Blazers are at Golden State on Saturday night.

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WIZARDS 118, BLAZERS 117

WASHINGTON (118) — Avdija 4-7 5-7 13, Kuzma 11-22 7-10 32, Gafford 7-10 2-3 16, Jones 9-15 1-2 24, Poole 4-13 5-5 13, Gallinari 1-3 1-2 4, Gill 0-0 0-0 0, Kispert 3-8 1-1 9, Muscala 2-5 0-2 5, Coulibaly 1-1 0-0 2. Totals 42-84 22-32 118.

PORTLAND (117) — Camara 2-3 0-0 4, Grant 6-14 4-7 20, Ayton 10-21 3-4 23, Brogdon 3-8 0-0 7, Simons 15-28 4-5 41, Walker 3-6 1-2 8, Thybulle 0-3 0-0 0, Reath 4-7 1-1 10, Henderson 0-5 4-4 4. Totals 43-95 17-23 117.

Washington 33 34 26 25—118

Portland 24 30 26 37—117

3-Point Goals—Washington 12-30 (Jones 5-7, Kuzma 3-7, Kispert 2-6, Gallinari 1-2, Muscala 1-3, Avdija 0-1, Poole 0-4), Portland 14-30 (Simons 7-14, Grant 4-7, Reath 1-1, Walker 1-2, Brogdon 1-3, Camara 0-1, Thybulle 0-2). Fouled Out—Gafford. Rebounds—Washington 37 (Avdija 11), Portland 51 (Ayton 16). Assists—Washington 26 (Avdija, Kuzma, Poole 6), Portland 24 (Simons 7). Total Fouls—Washington 17, Portland 27. A—18,690 (19,393)