Trail Blazers Look to Bounce Back Against Wizards

Portland aims to tighten grip on final playoff spot in West

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:04am

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The Portland Trail Blazers will host the Washington Wizards on Sunday as they continue their push for the 8th seed in the Western Conference playoff race. The Blazers are coming off a tough loss that hurt their postseason positioning, making this a critical matchup as they try to solidify their spot in the playoff picture.

Why it matters

The Trail Blazers are in a tight battle for the final playoff berth in the West, with several teams vying for that 8th seed. A win over the Wizards would give Portland some breathing room and strengthen their hold on that coveted postseason position.

The details

Portland is currently 39-37 on the season, just a half-game ahead of the 11th-place Los Angeles Lakers in the Western Conference standings. The Blazers are led by All-Star guard Damian Lillard, who is averaging 28.5 points and 7.1 assists per game. Washington, at 34-42, is out of the playoff picture in the East but has been playing better basketball of late under first-year head coach Wes Unseld Jr.

  • The game tips off at 6:00 PM Pacific Time on Sunday, March 29th, 2026.
  • Portland is 6-4 in its last 10 games, while Washington is 5-5 over that same stretch.

The players

Damian Lillard

All-Star point guard and the face of the Portland Trail Blazers franchise.

Wes Unseld Jr.

First-year head coach of the Washington Wizards.

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What they’re saying

“We know how important these last few games are. We can't afford to let one slip away, especially at home.”

— Damian Lillard, Trail Blazers Guard

“Our guys have been competing hard, and that's all I can ask for. We're going to keep battling until the end.”

— Wes Unseld Jr., Wizards Head Coach

What’s next

The Trail Blazers will have a quick turnaround, hosting the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night in a crucial game that could determine the 8th seed in the West.

The takeaway

This late-season matchup between the Trail Blazers and Wizards carries significant playoff implications, as Portland looks to solidify its hold on the final postseason berth in the West while Washington plays out the string in the East. The Blazers' ability to bounce back from their recent setback and take care of business at home will be key to their postseason aspirations.