Washington will look to avoid a franchise-record losing streak when it hosts the Denver Nuggets on Saturday in Washington, D.C.
The Wizards have lost 16 in a row, tying a franchise record initially set in the 2009-10 season. They stand last in the Eastern Conference, but coach Brian Keefe trusts it’s all part of the maturation process for a young team.
“These guys believe in what we’re doing, they believe in the process,” Keefe said Thursday night after a 137-101 loss to the Dallas Mavericks. “We’re building some habits that are important and we have to build them when times are tough. Every team has their moments, it’s how you deal with those moments, but I’ve always believed in the character of our team.”
Only one of the 16 losses has been by less than double digits, a nine-point loss to the San Antonio Spurs on Nov. 13. Three of the past four losses have been by 25 points or more.
It’s the second straight season the Wizards have lost 16 games in a row, making them only the sixth NBA team to have losing streaks of that length in consecutive years. The NBA record for a single-season losing streak is 28, set by the Detroit Pistons last season.
Wizards second-year forward Bilal Coulibaly has struggled, in particular. He was 0-of-10 from the floor against the Mavericks, and in the past four games, is 4-of-31 from the field and 1-of-12 from 3-point range.
Keefe expressed confidence in Coulibaly.
“I think he’s a little out of rhythm, sometimes different things can cause some of that,” Keefe said. “Sometimes you have to go through those things in a season and in your career. I have great faith in his character and who he is. He will get out of this.”
Jordan Poole leads the Wizards with 20 points a game and five assists. No. 1 pick Alexandre Sarr is averaging 10.6 points per game playing 26.8 minutes a game. The Wizards also have the toughest schedule in the league in December, according to NBA.com.
“I embrace the challenges,” Keefe said. “The schedule is the schedule. You have to go after it and I think that’s what our group is about.”
Denver has alternated wins and losses over its past eight games and stands eighth in the Western Conference. They gave up 22 3-pointers in a loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Thursday night while only making six.
The Nuggets have yet to capture the flow that has made the team an NBA power over the past two seasons.
“We’re a team that’s trying to find itself,” Nuggets coach Michael Malone said. “I think everyone has to own where they’re at, where we’re at, and it starts with me as the head coach to look in the mirror and say what can I do better and how can I help this team more.”
Three-time NBA MVP Nikola Jokic leads the Nuggets with 29.9 points and tops the NBA with 13.4 rebounds. Five different Nuggets are averaging at least 15 points per game, but defensively, the Nuggets rank 24th in the NBA allowing 116.8 points a night.
This will be the 101st meeting of the two franchises. Denver has won the past six matchups.
