Kyle Kuzma, Bradley Beal lead Wizards over Hornets 124-121
Jan 3, 2022, 4:38 AM | Updated: 8:10 pm
Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) shoots against Charlotte Hornets forward Miles Bridges (0) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Jan. 3, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)
(AP Photo/Nick Wass)
WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Kuzma had a season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds, Bradley Beal scored 35 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-121 on Monday night.
Charlotte, which lost to Phoenix by a season-high 34 points on Sunday, was led by Gordon Hayward’s 27 points. Terry Rozier scored 25 points and Miles Bridges added 23 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.
The Hornets took a 113-111 lead on Rozier’s layup with 1:53 to play.
Kuzma’ hit a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining to give Washington a 114-113 lead. Beal added two free throws with 39 seconds left to put the Wizards up 116-113. Beal and Kuzma each added two free throws to secure the win.
“I’m just being really aggressive,” Kuzma said. “I just put my head down and try to get to the rim, take an open 3 if it’s there. If not, not try to settle.”
Beal again started at point guard as four others were in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. He had eight assists and seven rebounds.
“They played well. They made shots. We had plenty of shots to win this game tonight, and we just didn’t,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “They made more plays, more shots than us tonight.”
BEAL HIGH ON KUZMA
Beal has played with John Wall and Russell Westbrook and says that it’s a pleasure sharing the court with Kuzma.
“He’s a willing learner. He accepts criticism,” Beal said. “He doesn’t think too highly of himself. He wants to win. You can see that.”
BEAL ADJUSTING TO LEADING
With Wall and Westbrook, Beal was making the adjustment. Now, others must adjust to him as he leads the Wizards.
“I’d be lying if I said it was easy,” Beal said. “Anybody who was a leader would say it’s not leading a team, but it’s what I’m prepared for and I’m excited about, and I embrace. Everything I do, my approach, my mentality, my body language, all that stuff, has a direct effect on my teammates, and as a leader, sometimes you don’t understand that, and it takes a long time to develop that.”
TURNING POINT
Washington erased a 14-point Charlotte lead in the third quarter and began the fourth quarter with 11 straight points.
“I thought the game turned at the start of the fourth quarter,” Borrego said. “A big part of this loss was that group right there, not getting stops, not being back.”
TIP-INS
Hornets: C Vernon Carey Jr., F Scottie Lewis and F PJ Washington are in the health and safety protocols. … Borrego was assessed a technical in the first quarter. … Rozier scored 13 points in the final 2:41.
Wizards: F Davis Bertans returned after missing two games with a non-COVID illness. He scored 14 points. … G Tremont Waters, who signed a 10-day contract on Jan. 1, is in the health and safety protocols. … C Thomas Bryant, who hasn’t played this season after undergoing knee surgery a year ago, is out of health and safety protocols, as is G Raul Neto. Coach Wes Unseld Jr. hopes Neto will be available on Wednesday. … Unseld said that F Rui Hachimura, who hasn’t played this season but was nearing his return before entering health and safety protocols, won’t be set back much by his enforced absence. “I don’t think it will be prolonged,” Unseld said.
UP NEXT
Hornets: Host Detroit Pistons on Wednesday.
Wizards: Host Houston Rockets on Wednesday.
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