The Washington Wizards pulled off an upset on Wednesday night, defeating the Sacramento Kings 116-111 at home. Jordan Poole led the way with 23 points as Washington snapped a three-game losing streak.
The Wizards (17-59) had one of their most balanced performances of the season, with Bub Carrington and AJ Johnson each scoring 19 points. Tristan Vukcevic added 17, while Anthony Gill finished with 10.
DeMar DeRozan scored 29 points for the Kings (36-40), including 20 in the fourth quarter, as Sacramento attempted a late rally. Domantas Sabonis contributed 18 points and 16 rebounds, while Keegan Murray and Zach LaVine also had 18 points each.
Sacramento trailed by 14 points entering the fourth quarter but outscored Washington 34-25 in the final frame. The Kings got within 111-109 in the last minute, but a clutch three-pointer from JT Thor sealed the win for the Wizards.
Thor delivered his only basket of the game at the perfect time. With 40 seconds remaining, he knocked down a three to extend Washington’s lead to 114-109.
DeRozan missed a layup on the next possession, and Carrington iced the game with two free throws. The Kings never got another chance to tie the game.
Washington’s three-point shooting made the difference, as the Wizards hit 17 of 43 attempts from beyond the arc. In contrast, Sacramento struggled from deep, connecting on just 10 of 39 attempts.
The loss was costly for the Kings, who have now dropped three straight games on their six-game road trip. They remain in 10th place in the Western Conference, barely holding onto a play-in tournament spot.
With only six games left in the season, Sacramento faces a tough battle to secure postseason play. Two of their final games are against teams that are already eliminated or below them in the standings, making Wednesday’s loss even more damaging.
The Wizards, meanwhile, remain at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings despite the victory. They are still tied with the Utah Jazz for the fewest wins in the NBA.
Sabonis was dominant in the paint for the Kings, grabbing 16 rebounds and dishing out seven assists, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Wizards’ hot shooting. DeRozan, who had a quiet first half, took over in the fourth but ran out of time.
Poole set the tone early for Washington, scoring efficiently and making key plays in transition. Carrington and Johnson provided additional firepower, combining for 38 points and 13 assists.
Defensive lapses hurt the Kings, as they allowed Washington to get too many open looks from beyond the arc. The Wizards capitalized, shooting 51.2% from the field and 39.5% from three.
