The Washington Wizards snapped a 16-game losing streak with a commanding 133-110 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night at Delta Center.
Washington recorded its first win since Feb. 20 and controlled the game from the opening tip, never trailing in a matchup between two teams near the bottom of their conferences.
Rookie forward Julian Reese delivered a dominant performance with 26 points and 17 rebounds, shooting 12-of-16 from the field while anchoring the interior.
Fellow rookie Will Riley added 19 points and 10 rebounds along with five assists, giving Washington a second double-double and consistent production on both ends.
Washington established control early with efficient offense and strong rebounding.
The visitors shot 55 percent from the field and outrebounded Utah 56-40, generating extra possessions through 13 offensive rebounds.
The advantage continued to grow throughout the third quarter as the Wizards pushed the margin to 37 points.
Balanced scoring fueled the surge, with Bilal Coulibaly and Leaky Black contributing 11 points each while Bub Carrington added 12.
Sharife Cooper provided a boost off the bench with 17 points and six assists, helping stabilize the offense during key stretches.
Utah attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth quarter with a 23-2 run that trimmed the deficit to 13 midway through the period.
Cody Williams led the Jazz with 24 points on 11-of-20 shooting, attacking the paint and finishing efficiently around the rim.
Blake Hinson added a career-high 21 points, including four three-pointers, while John Konchar collected 14 rebounds and five assists.
Despite the late push, Washington regained control behind timely baskets from Reese and Cooper.
The Wizards maintained their offensive efficiency late and closed the game without allowing Utah to threaten further.
Utah struggled from beyond the arc throughout the night, converting only 7-of-29 three-point attempts.
The Jazz also lost the battle on the boards, a decisive factor that limited second-chance opportunities and transition chances.
The defeat continued a difficult stretch for Utah, which has now lost 15 of its last 18 games.
Washington entered the game dealing with an injury update, announcing before tipoff that Kyshawn George has a partial tear in the ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. The team said George will be reevaluated in one week.
Washington improved to 17-55 with the victory and will travel to face the Golden State Warriors on Friday. Utah fell to 21-52 and will host the Denver Nuggets in its next game.
