Portland guard Damian Lillard is double teamed by Washington’s Emeka Okafor and Chris Singleton as he goes up for a basket in the first half of NBA action on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. The Wizards defeated the Portland Trail Blazers 84-82 to grab their first win this season. “We are the first team they beat. We had a chance to win the game,” said Lillard. “I think we jumped out on them, but we let up and coasted, and we let them [gain] confidence on their own floor.” /Photo by John E. De Freitas
Wizards guard Jordan Crawford sinks a shot in the third quarter of NBA action on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. Crawford led the Wizards with 19 points and helped the team secure its first win of the season. “It’s definitely a monkey off the back,” said Crawford. “We’ve been losing a lot of close games and to [be able to] finally pull one out showed that we can do it and we’re getting better each day and not giving up.” /Photo by John E. De Freitas
Wizards forward Trevor Ariza shoots over two Portland players in the third quarter of NBA action on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. “It was a great feeling. Everybody was happy. We finally got a win and got that monkey off our back, but we’re not satisfied,” said Ariza. “We want to continue to win so we’re going to do what we need to do to try to win.” /Photo by John E. De Freitas
Members of Batala Washington shared Brazilian culture and music with fans on Wednesday, Nov. 28 at the Verizon Center in Northwest. The band provided halftime entertainment during the Wizards vs. Portland Trail Blazers basketball game. For nearly five years, Batala Washington has served Afro-Brazilian, samba-reggae rhythms for patrons throughout the Washington area. And while the all-female band is certainly lively, the music is tempered with heaping doses of sisterhood, soul and lessons in Brazilian culture. /Photo by John E. De Freitas
Friendship Collegiate Academy wide receiver Darez Diggs breaks the tackle of Dunbar defensive back Carlos Atkinson during the inaugural District of Columbia State Athletic Association Football Championship at Greene Stadium in Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 1. /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
Dunbar linebacker Jamaal Montgomery, and Friendship Collegiate Academy running back Jonathan Haden, struggle for possession of a loose ball during the inaugural District of Columbia State Athletic Association Football Championship at Greene Stadium in Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 1. /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
Friendship Collegiate Academy running back Jonathan Haden breaks away from Dunbar linebacker Terry Talford during the inaugural District of Columbia State Athletic Association Football Championship at Greene Stadium in Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 1. /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
Friendship Collegiate Academy head coach Aazaar Abdul-Rahim, and Friendship Collegiate Academy Chairman Donald L. Hense, listen as District of Columbia State Athletic Association Director Clark Ray presents the trophy during the inaugural District of Columbia State Athletic Association Football Championship at Greene Stadium in Northwest on Saturday, Dec. 1. /Photo by Khalid Naji-Allah
