Story By: Sol Tucker
Photos By: Sol Tucker
Washington, D.C–
The Wizards have a few down to the wire games this season, but with two of their top players our tonight in Porzingis and Beal, the Wizards had just one guy to get the job done, Kyle Kuzma.
Kuzma, who has had his struggles this past week including fouling out a game and immediately heading for the locker room, tonight was different, he was going to put the Wizards on top after the Bulls tied the game at 97.
Kuzma finished with 21 points. Backup forward Anthony Gill scored a career-high 18 points, and Monte Morris added 17 for Washington.
One shot, one bucket made the difference tonight in a 100-97 victory for the Wizards.
“I was trying to give myself the best chance to make a play,” Kuzma said. “I caught the ball, I looked left, a lot of teams are forcing me left. I just had Delon (Wright) get flat a little bit. I knew I had (Alex) Caruso on me and he’s one of the better defenders in the league. Give myself a chance to pick either way instead of being directed in one. … Rose up and shot it and it went in.”
The Bulls had one more chance to tie the game again, but Zach LaVine missed a 16-footer for Chicago with 2.3 seconds left, with Deni Avdija grabbing the last of his career-high 20 rebounds for Washington.
So many Bulls fans could be heard screaming “no don’t shoot the 2.” Levine was well inside the arc when he attempted the shot. Did Levine think the Bulls were only down by 2 points? No answer was given after the game on his shot, other than the refs missed a call.
The Wizards had a foul to give on Chicago’s last possession, and LaVine, who decided to drive instead of taking a 3-pointer when down three, said afterward he was fouled by Wright. LaVine added that Wright said, “I got you,” after the game and an official told him they missed the call.
Next up for the Wizards is a match-up against the Knicks on Friday night.
