Thursday night’s game between the Washington Wizards and the Los Angeles Lakers saw the hometown Wizards lose by a final score of 134-96. The Lakers outscored Washington 36-16 in the second quarter en route to a 78-48 lead at the halftime break, and Los Angeles was able to empty the bench during the second half as they coasted to the victory.
The loss dropped Washington to 6-41 on the season, and with the Wizards not playing again until February 1, the loss also closed out their month of January.
It was not a good month at all, as Washington finished with a 1-16 record in the month of January. Their lone victory came back on the first day on the new year, as the Wizards knocked off the Chicago Bulls by a final score of 126-107.
Just how bad is that record?
Consider this from the NFL world. While the Wizards were struggling Washington fans could take solace in the success of the Washington Commanders. Jayden Daniels and company closed out the regular season with a win over the Dallas Cowboys on January 5. While Daniels and the rest of the Washington starters sat that game out to rest for the playoffs, Marcus Mariota led the Commanders to a 23-19 win.
Then in the playoffs the Commanders put together a dream run to the NFC Championship Game. They knocked off the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 23-20 on Wild Card Weekend, and then took on the top-seeded Detroit Lions in the Divisional Round. Washington stormed into Detroit and left the Motor City with a 45-31 win, and a spot in the NFC Championship Game.
While their dream run ended the following week in Philadelphia with a loss to the Eagles, that meant the Commanders finished January with a 3-1 record, having won two more games than the Wizards did over the same month.
Maybe February will bring some better luck for the Wizards.