Shaedon Sharpe delivered a highlight-reel dunk that was quickly lauded as one of the top slams of the NBA season, contributing to a career-best night that propelled the Portland Trail Blazers to a 129-121 victory over the Washington Wizards on Wednesday evening.
Sharpe was on fire, going 13-for-26 from the field and nailing all four of his free throws in the closing minute, ensuring the Trail Blazers held onto a minimum three-point lead throughout the final quarter.
Anfernee Simons and Scoot Henderson also played pivotal roles, each scoring 16 points for Portland. The win came as the Trail Blazers were chasing a spot in the Western Conference play-in tournament, being 4.5 games behind Sacramento at the night’s start.
On the Wizards’ side, Jordan Poole led with 24 points, while the team, which has had its struggles this season, aimed for consecutive victories for the first time since a three-game streak at the beginning of the month. Richaun Holmes and Corey Kispert both contributed 20 points, with Holmes achieving a personal-best in scoring.
Injury concerns were noted for the Trail Blazers when former Wizards player Deni Avdija had to exit early due to a left quadriceps injury, after just six productive minutes in the first quarter. He managed to contribute five points before his departure, while his season average has been 14.8.
In contrast, Richaun Holmes shone under coach Brian Keefe’s leadership as a starter for the seventh time this February, delivering a flawless performance by hitting 7-of-7 from the field and matching it at the foul line.
A defining moment of the encounter was Sharpe’s second-quarter slam dunk that left a lasting impression on attendees. He intercepted a pass from Justin Champagnie beyond the three-point line, dribbled once, then took off, soaring over Champagnie and delivering a powerful tomahawk dunk before crashing to the floor.
Statistically, the Trail Blazers dominated in terms of attempts and accuracy, shooting 101-83 in field goals and leading 57-41 before halftime.
Looking forward, the Trail Blazers are set to face off against Brooklyn on Friday, while the Wizards will travel to Charlotte for a matchup on Saturday.
