The Portland Trail Blazers lost 118-117 to the Washington Wizards on Thursday night after a furious fourth-quarter rally fell just short. Guard Anfernee Simons keyed the comeback with 22 points in the final period, part of 41 overall for the evening.
Portland had the ball in hand on the final play of the contest, down one, six seconds remaining, needing a bucket to win. Instead of getting the ball to Simons, the super-hot hand, the play went to forward Jerami Grant. Grant drove the lane, drifted left, and missed a well-guarded, looping layup badly, not even hitting the rim.