Washington Wizards: 3 must-win games in the month of January

The Washington Wizards are on a streak entering the new year. As they look to keep the streak alive, here’s a look at some must-win games in January.

The Washington Wizards are off to a 1-0 start to begin the New Year. Their 121-103 victory over the New York Knicks last night is their third in a row. They’ve won five of their last six games to close out the month of December. Their 22-16 record ranks fourth among Eastern Conference teams in terms of playoff position.

The Wizards went 2-1 in last month’s edition, falling on Dec. 17 to the Cleveland Cavaliers 106-99. Washington won convincingly 106-92 against the Portland Trail Blazers and 111-103 over the Boston Celtics on Christmas Day. This month’s games pose a bigger challenge to the Wizards’ ability to stay consistent against sub-500 teams.

The Washington Wizards closed out 2017 with a victory over the Chicago Bulls despite trailing in the early going. They finished the game on a 7-0 run, outscoring Chicago 31-21 in the fourth quarter to get the 114-110 victory.

To ring in the New Year, the Wizards got 73 combined points from John Wall (25 points), Bradley Beal (27) and Marcin Gortat (21). The performance has put them in a good spot as teams are entering the thick of their 82-game schedule. Washington is in a good spot as 2018 begins. Here we take a look at three must-win games for them in the month of January.