The Washington Wizards earned their first win of the season, besting the Portland Trailblazers on the road in overtime 125-124. Otto Porter capped off a frantic finish by swatting away Damian Lillard’s layup attempt at the buzzer to preserve the win for Washington.
https://twitter.com/SweetHoopsNBA/status/1054655307564101632?s=19
John Wall had given the Wizards a 125-121 lead after banking in a pull-up jumper over Trailblazers center Jusuf Nurkic with 9.4 seconds remaining. Wall appeared to hit the dagger, giving a Micheal Jordan-like shoulder shrug.
Just in case you missed @JohnWall's MJ shrug 🤷♂️#WizBlazers pic.twitter.com/XBkrRtDbzu
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) October 23, 2018
However, Portland would not go away so easily. C.J. McCollum hit a desperation three from the corner with seven seconds remaining that closed the Wizards’ lead to one.
Wall was fouled on the ensuing in bounds to force free throws. Unfortunately, Wall missed both free throws leading to the frantic drive by Lillard and the game-sealing block by Porter.
FLEX ON 'EM OP 💪
See the block that sealed the Wizards' first W pic.twitter.com/zw3NxBF1vZ
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) October 23, 2018
Certainly, Wall would love to have those free throws back, but he will enjoy the win in a tough environment on the road anyway they come. For Porter it was fitting that he came away with the clutch defensive play after being called out by his head coach, Scott Brooks, for his lack of aggression. The Wizards gained their first win of the season on the first leg of a five-game road trip through the Western Conference.
