Zac Boyer

For Wizards, Game 3 is already a charm for fans, franchise

It didn't take long Tuesday night for the Washington Wizards' excitement of an overtime victory over the Chicago Bulls to shift to the anticipation of taking their first-round playoff series back home.

April 24, 2014

Washington Redskins’ 2014 schedule opens with Texans

With Jay Gruden in charge and no lingering questions about Robert Griffin III's health, the Redskins now know their roadmap to what they hope will be a return to the playoffs after a one-year absence.

April 23, 2014

Wizards’ Bradley Beal wastes no time getting into playoff basketball mode

Bradley Beal became only the 10th player 20 years or younger to score 25 or more points in a playoff game – a list that includes Magic Johnson and Kobe Bryant.

April 23, 2014

Wizards mount comeback, take two-game lead in playoff series

The Wizards didn’t merely claw back when they faced a 10-point deficit midway through the fourth quarter. They landed body blows, both on offense and defense, giving them the energy for one final punch. A 101-99 overtime victory was the prize for the Wizards, who now will head back home to Washington with a two-game series lead over the Bulls and prepare for Game 3 on Friday night at Verizon Center.

April 23, 2014

Early returns show projections of physical Wizards-Bulls series were correct

Washington knew the meeting of the two teams would be a physical affair and it has proven to be so. The Bulls' frontcourt of Joakin Noah, Carlos Boozer and reserve Taj Gibson matches up well against Marcin Gortat, Nenê and backup Trevor Booker, in skill and size.

April 22, 2014

Wizards’ veterans step up as Wall, Beal get playoff jitters out of their systems

The Wizards dug themselves out of a 13-point third-quarter hole not on the backs of John Wall and Bradley Beal, but behind veterans Marcin Gortat, Trevor Ariza and Nenê, who had a game-high 24 points in his first start since spraining the MCL in his left knee.

April 21, 2014

Wizards win first playoff game in six years, beat Bulls in Game 1

On Sunday, in their first playoff game in six years, the Wizards showed they weren’t afraid of the main stage. Nenê had 24 points, Marcin Gortat had 15 points and 13 rebounds and the Wizards defeated the Bulls 102-93 in Game 1 of the teams’ first-round playoff series at United Center.

April 20, 2014

Wizards begin their postseason bid with Nene ready to be a factor

As the Wizards began their first playoff series in six years on Sunday against the Chicago Bulls, having Nenê back in the starting lineup – and healthy – is a step that will make them stronger as well.

April 20, 2014

Inexperienced Wizards believe they’re ready for playoff challenge

For weeks, John Wall has talked about the importance of playing a game "the right way." He has discussed the need to make shots, to play defense, to be resilient. Those are all things he has learned during his four years with the Wizards, and those are all things he thinks will be easy to accomplish in the postseason.

April 19, 2014

As Wizards head into postseason, Otto Porter’s role remains a mystery

Otto Porter, the Wizards thought, could fit in as a jack-of-all-trades who would complement John Wall and Bradley Beal in the backcourt. In college, he was an aggressive scorer who steadily improved his long-range shooting and a versatile defender who had a nose for the boards.

April 17, 2014

Wizards climbing back to respectability with first playoff appearance in six years

The playoffs should harden this blossoming team, giving it an opportunity to gauge not only where it stands against the league's best, but also an understanding of what it will take to one day get there.

April 15, 2014

Without LeBron James, Chris Bosh, Heat pummeled by Wizards

Trevor Ariza had a game-high 25 points, Nenê added 18 points and the Wizards emphatically defeated the Heat, 114-93, before a sellout crowd of 20,356 at Verizon Center in their final home game of the regular season.

April 14, 2014

Wizards know from experience all possible playoff foes are beatable

Of the seven other teams that have qualified for the Eastern Conference playoffs, the Wizards have managed a victory against all of them. A few they've beaten more than once.

April 13, 2014

Wizards’ defense smothers Bucks late in 104-91 victory

John Wall has maintained that the Wizards' solution to their offensive woes will be to keep shooting. As for their defensive issues, sometimes, it takes a concerted effort to stand up and challenge their opponent. Bradley Beal had 26 points to lead six players in double figures in scoring, and the Wizards forced 14 turnovers in the second half of a 104-91 victory over the hapless Milwaukee Bucks at Verizon Center.

April 12, 2014

Wizards approaching postseason with problems that need to be resolved

One of Randy Wittman's greatest curiosities Wednesday evening, before the Wizards faced the Charlotte Bobcats at Verizon Center, was how his players would approach a game with meaningful postseason implications.

April 10, 2014

In crucial battle for playoff seeding, Wizards fall to Bobcats

The Bobcats took a 20-point lead with four minutes to play before halftime, and though Washington embarked on a late surge that forced the game into overtime, Charlotte won, 94-88, at Verizon Center.

April 9, 2014

Patience pays off for Drew Gooden, who found a team that needed him in the Wizards

Drew Gooden started to grow impatient in late February, when the NBA season grew five months old and he was left without a job.

April 8, 2014

Redskins excited to begin working out in the Jay Gruden era

With Jay Gruden's hiring, the Redskins were able to begin their voluntary offseason program two weeks earlier than normal – a move the NFL instituted three years ago to assist teams making the transition from one coaching staff to another.

April 7, 2014

On a day of rest for many, Nationals salvage final game of series against Braves

Behind right-hander Taylor Jordan, and yet another shuffled lineup, the Nationals salvaged their three-game series with the Atlanta Braves, avoiding a sweep with a 2-1 victory before 34,327 at Nationals Park.

April 6, 2014

Jordan Zimmermann shakes off flu, but not Braves in Nats’ home opener loss

Jordan Zimmermann lasted five innings, striking out nine while allowing four hits, but a tiebreaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning gave the Braves the victory on Friday.

April 4, 2014