Kyle Kuzma led the struggling Washington Wizards (12-58) to a 109-102 victory over the Sacramento Kings (40-29) on Thursday night, snapping a five-game losing streak.
Kuzma, who had missed the team’s previous two games due to shoulder soreness, returned with a vengeance, scoring 31 points on an efficient 13-of-22 shooting while also grabbing six rebounds.
Deni Avdija and Corey Kispert provided valuable contributions for Washington, chipping in with 17 and 15 points respectively, further solidifying the Wizards’ resolve to secure the win against a formidable opponent in Sacramento. Jordan Poole added 14 points.
Despite a spirited effort from De’Aaron Fox and Malik Monk, who combined for 45 points for the Kings, Sacramento struggled from beyond the arc, connecting on just 11 of their 39 attempts from 3-point range, ultimately hampering their chances of mounting a comeback against the resurgent Wizards.
The Wizards dominated early on, establishing a commanding 54-36 lead before the Kings launched a spirited 18-0 run in the final minutes of the second quarter to narrow the deficit heading into halftime.
