The Washington Wizards pulled off a rare victory, defeating the Minnesota Timberwolves 105-103 on Saturday night. The win ended Washington’s 16-game losing streak and snapped a 21-game road skid.
Kyle Kuzma led the charge with a season-high 31 points, shooting 13-of-24 from the field and 5-of-10 from three-point range. Jordan Poole added 19 points, while rookie Bilal Coulibaly contributed 14 points, five assists, and four rebounds. Jonas Valanciunas recorded a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.
Minnesota, missing All-Star Anthony Edwards due to illness and Julius Randle because of a groin injury, saw its five-game winning streak come to an end. Jaden McDaniels stepped up with a team-high 23 points and 12 rebounds, marking his first career game with at least 20 points and 10 boards. Rudy Gobert added 16 points and 16 rebounds, while Nickeil Alexander-Walker finished with 14 points.
Washington took control in the final minutes, using a 9-0 run to build a six-point lead. Valanciunas scored five points during that stretch, giving the Wizards a 99-93 advantage with 3:52 left.
Minnesota had a chance to tie the game in the closing seconds after Washington turned the ball over with 11 seconds remaining. However, Alexander-Walker’s three-point attempt rimmed out, and Corey Kispert secured the rebound, sealing the Wizards’ seventh win of the season.
Kuzma was dominant in the second quarter, scoring 16 consecutive points for Washington. Despite not attempting a free throw all night, he shot efficiently and led the team with eight rebounds. Poole hit four three-pointers, while Coulibaly made all but one of his six shot attempts.
Minnesota’s offensive struggles were evident, as the team shot just 40.9% from the field and 30% from deep. The Timberwolves managed 29 assists but couldn’t overcome their missing firepower. Veteran guard Mike Conley posted 16 points and five assists, while Joe Ingles added 10 points off the bench.
Washington welcomed back Malcolm Brogdon, who returned from a 14-game absence due to a foot injury. The veteran guard played 21 minutes, contributing three points, five rebounds, and four assists.
The Timberwolves also dealt with another setback when Naz Reid, making his first start of the season, exited in the third quarter with a right finger sprain. He finished with eight points on 3-of-10 shooting.
Washington improved to 7-41 with the victory, while Minnesota dropped to 27-22.
