Wizards reaching new lows, setting records with lack of defense

The Washington Wizards are a poor defensive team. That much has been obvious through the team’s first 46 games.

But lately — even by their standards — they’ve reached new lows. On Tuesday, the Wizards became the first team since the 1990 Denver Nuggets to give up more than 150 points in back-to-back games, according to Basketball Reference. They became just the fourth team in NBA history to reach that feat. 

On Sunday, the Wizards gave up 152 points to the Atlanta Hawks. Then in their next game on Tuesday, the Milwaukee Bucks — playing without MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo (shoulder) — scored 151 points against the Wizards.

The Wizards have now given up more than 140 points in six games this season — the most since the 1990-91 Denver Nuggets, which did it a remarkable 24 times. 

Heading into Wednesday’s games, Washington ranks last in defensive rating (116.6) and points allowed per game (121.3). The latter is the second-worst in franchise history, trailing only the 1966-67 Baltimore Bullets (122). 

Most points allowed in a game this season:

159 — Wizards
158 — Hawks
158 — Rockets
152 — Wizards
151 — Wizards tonight to the Bucks
150 — Wizards pic.twitter.com/wpzRa18r37

— StatMamba (@statmuse) January 29, 2020