Game Preview: Trail Blazers v Wizards

The Washington Wizards face the second game of a back-to-back, as they visit
Portland to take on the Trail Blazers at Moda center on Saturday evening. The
Wizards (40-24) are in a groove, as they are 7-3 in their last 10, and winners
of four straight. They are coming off an impressive 130-122 overtime win in
Sacramento on Friday night, where they used a 34-19 fourth quarter to rally back
and send the game to overtime. Bradley Beal came up huge in the win, as he led
the way with 38 points on efficient 13-of-24 shooting. With the Celtics losing
on Friday night, the Wizards overtook second place in the East with the win, and
have a chance to further solidify their grip with a win in Portland. This will
be the fourth game of a five-game road trip for the Wizards; they are 3-0 on the
trip so far. They have won four straight on the road, where they are 14-15 so
far this season. Meanwhile, the Trail Blazers (28-35) have also won four
straight, as they are focused on making a push for eighth place in the West.
They currently sit ninth, one game behind the eighth-place Nuggets. The Trail
Blazers are coming off an impressive 114-108 home win against the 76ers on
Thursday, where Jusuf Nurkic had perhaps the best game of his career, with an
amazing 28-point, 20-rebound, eight-assist, six-block and two-steal performance,
in 38 minutes of action. Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum each topped 20 points
in the win, as they continue to be the go-to guys for their squad. The Blazers
have won three straight at home, where they are 17-13 so far this season.