The Washington Wizards’ miserable season continues. They were defeated 106-82 by the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. This gave them their 18th loss by 20 or more points this season. This puts Washington in bad company. The only other team in NBA history to suffer as many 20-point losses before the All-Star break was the Cleveland Cavaliers in 1970.
It was Cleveland’s first season as an NBA franchise. The Washington Wizards don’t have the same excuse and dropped to a 6-40 record on the season. They play eight more games until the All-Star break, so at their current rate, they will break the record.
The Washington Wizards Loss
The Raptors dominated the Washington Wizards from the start. They won all four quarters of the game and led by as many as 29 points. It started when Toronto opened the game on a 14-0 run. Washington did not score a point until halfway through the first quarter. Bad scoring ended up being a theme for them. The Wizards current offense is reliant on shot-makers like Jordan Poole and Kyle Kuzma. Alex Sarr was out, and while Bilal Coulibaly is one of the best young defenders in the NBA, his offense is streaky at best. So, when Poole was having a cold shooting night, the offense slumped.
The Washington Wizards lost the first quarter 31-18 and it was a deficit they would not overcome. Poole finished with 3 points on 1-of-9 shooting. Coulibaly also struggled, shooting 1-of-6. The only players that shot the ball well were Kuzma and Justin Champagnie. Kuzma led the team with 19 points on 7-of-14 shooting. Champagnie had 12 points off the bench on 5-of-7 shooting. The team shot a poor 38.9% from the field, making 28-of-72 attempts. They were even worse from beyond the arc, shooting 5-of-30 for 16.7%. The offensive struggles gave them their lowest-scoring game of the season with 82 points.
Meanwhile, the Raptors are quietly heating up among the bottom feeders of the Eastern Conference. They have won five consecutive games and seven out of their last eight. This includes wins over the Boston Celtics, Orlando Magic, and Atlanta Hawks.
Washington’s Season
The Washington Wizards’ 6-40 record is the worst in the NBA. They have not won a game since January 1 when they defeated the Chicago Bulls and have lost 15 games in a row. It is one game shy of their longest losing streak of the season at 16 games. Not only are they losing, but they are also losing by large amounts. No matter the talent on a team, 18 20-point losses before the All-Star break cannot feel good. The Wizards are on track to finish at the bottom of the standings and could earn the No. 1 pick in the draft.
However, despite the losses, there are a few talented young pieces on the Washington Wizards roster. Coulibaly is a lengthy, athletic wing who can play excellent defense. Sarr has shown promise in his rookie season with great size and defensive versatility. Both players are a consistent jump shot away from being great. Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George have also been promising rookies. Poole is a shot-creator who can heat up and score 30 points on any given night. Kuzma is a solid player who can contribute but also be moved for future draft capital at the trade deadline. So, it is not all bad in Washington.
Final Thoughts
The Washington Wizards season has been mired with bad losses. They have had multiple losing streaks of 15 or more games and have suffered 18 losses by 20 or more points. The team has a few young players with potential, and if they can get a high draft pick to add more young talent, they could have a bright future, but things are not looking good right now. They are last in the NBA with a 6-40 record and have not shown improvement.
