Predicting when the Wizards will snap their frustrating losing streak
By Arrick Joel
On Monday, the Washington Wizards led by as much as 14 points in their visit to the Delta Center to face the Utah Jazz, scoring a season-high 41 points in the first quarter. However, with three minutes to play in the third quarter, leading by 10 points, the Wizards, once again, took their foot off the gas.
Jordan Poole came out of the gates ready to light up the scoreboard, sinking each of his first eight shot attempts en route to scoring 23 points by the end of the second quarter. The efficient first-half scoring outburst ranks among some of the best in league history.
Tonight in Utah, Jordan Poole became just the fifth player in the NBA Play-By-Play Era (1996-97) to score 23 first-half points in 12 minutes or less.#ForTheDistrict
— Arrick Joel (@ArrickJoel) March 5, 2024
Poole finished the night with a team-best 32 points, trailed closely by Kyle Kuzma and Tyus Jones who each eclipsed the 20-point mark. However, the complexion of the game changed drastically in the later stages.
Late-game woes against Jazz frustrate Wizards fans
Utah's Jordan Clarkson torched the Wizards down the stretch, scoring on every basket of a 12-0 Jazz run late in the fourth quarter. Clarkson finished the game with 38 points in 36 minutes, helping the injury-plagued Jazz in every way he could.
115. 142. Wizards-Jazz (3/4/24). 127. 118. Final
Over the final 15 minutes of the game, the Jazz outscored the Wizards 36-14, a massive collapse that ultimately led to a 127-115 win for Utah. The final result tags Washington with their 15th consecutive loss, the second-longest losing streak in franchise history.
The Wizards will return home on Wednesday, hoping to redeem themselves against the Orlando Magic at the Capital One Arena. This recent string of losses has deeply frustrated the District's passionate fanbase, turning their team into the laughing stock of the NBA and leaving fans to wonder: when will the Wizards end their humiliating losing streak?