Blazers need to win against tough opponents now

The Portland Trail Blazers remain in the hunt for a play-in spot in the Western Conference. They are currently three games behind the 10th-place Dallas Mavericks with 13 games left in the season. On Monday, the Blazers secured a 112-97 victory over the Washington Wizards, but they face a tough challenge ahead. The Blazers have struggled against winning teams. Their last victory against one was on February 6 against the Sacramento Kings. Since then, they have lost 10 straight games against teams with winning records. Anfernee Simons, a guard for the Blazers, acknowledged this difficulty when he realized their losing streak against stronger teams. The team’s next seven opponents all have winning records. This includes upcoming games against Memphis, Denver, Boston, and Cleveland. The Blazers are just 1-6 against these teams this season. Simons emphasized the importance of winning these games to improve their chances for a play-in opportunity. Currently, the Blazers sit in 12th place with a record of 30-39. They are closely trailing the 11th-place Phoenix Suns by two games and the Mavericks by three. The Mavericks are struggling, having lost 10 of their last 12 games, especially after key player Kyrie Irving was sidelined with an injury. However, the return of All-Star Anthony Davis could boost the Mavericks as they have a favorable schedule ahead. Injury issues also plague the Blazers, particularly at the center position. Deandre Ayton, their starter, has missed the last 13 games with a calf injury. Backup center Robert Williams III has also been sidelined for much of the season. This puts extra pressure on rookie Donovan Clingan and fourth-string center Duop Reath. Blazers coach Chauncey Billups reminded the team to focus on their current games rather than looking too far ahead. He believes they need to concentrate on improving their play and handling one game at a time.