Despite standout performances from Kyle Kuzma (35 points) and Kristaps Porzingis (30 points), the Wizards lost their sixth game in a row and ninth of their last 10 on Saturday night against the Clippers, 114-107. It was a game full of energy and tough shot-making, but the Clippers were able to overcome the Washington duo's big night thanks to Paul George's game-high 36 points and a clutch Nicolas Batum three down the stretch.
Emotions were running high in John Wall's return to D.C. to play in front of fans for the first time in a different uniform. He got an ovation when introduced in the Clippers' starting lineup, and showed love to the fans after watching his in-arena tribute video in the first quarter.
With Wall playing well and the Wizards getting off to a hot start, the fans were electric and the energy was palpable. One of the Wizards who thrived in that energy was Kuzma. He had a brilliant first half, scoring 25 points on 10-of-15 shooting from the field and a perfect 5-of-5 shooting from deep. He knew this was a big game and came out with his flamethrower activated.
Kuzma wasn't the only Wizard to play well in the first half. Porzingis was doing a little bit of everything, scoring 14 points of his own to go along with seven rebounds and three assists.
The Wizards led 63-60 at halftime. It was the second game in a row that they've scored at least 63 points in the first half (65 first-half points on Friday night in Indiana). When asked what's made their first-half offense so successful the last two games, Wizards head coach Wes Unseld Jr. credited the pace of play.
"A lot of it is our pace," said Unseld Jr. "Getting the ball up. It allows for, sometimes, easier opportunities earlier in the clock. You're scoring, you're attacking before the defense gets set."
The second half didn't go as well for the Wizards. After back-and-forth play for most of the third quarter, the Clippers heated up and closed the period on a 13-0 run, capped by a Luke Kennard buzzer-beater three to give the Clippers their first lead of the game. The momentum had officially shifted, and it was an uphill battle from there for the Wizards.
To their credit, the Wizards didn't roll over. Just when things looked like they might be shifting for good, Jordan Goodwin hit back-to-back shots pulling the Wizards within one and injecting life back into the Wizards' faithful at Capital One Arena. Goodwin finished the game with 17 points on 6-of-13 shooting from the field to go along with six assists, four rebounds, and a career-high six steals.
The last couple of minutes were intense and hard-fought. Both teams refused to give in. With 24 seconds left, the game was tied and Batum got an open look at a three. He knocked it down, giving the Clippers a three-point lead -- one they wouldn't relinquish.
After a timeout from Unseld Jr., the Wizards had a chance to tie the game. Porzingis took a tough three over Kawhi Leonard, but unfortunately, Leonard made a nice defensive play and came up with the block. Ball game.
"As soon as I shot the three, I was like 'this is going in,'" said Porzingis. "And Kawhi [Leonard] got a little piece and blocked it a little bit... Not many people would've blocked me in that situation, but Kawhi is one of them, and he played excellent defense."
Kuzma and Porzingis each notched 30-point double-doubles in the loss. Kuzma finished the game with 35 points on 13-of-27 shooting from the field to go along with 12 rebounds and 3 assists, while Porzingis scored 30 points and added 15 rebounds and five assists.
The Wizards will look to break out of this funk on Monday night in D.C. when the Nets come to town.
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December 11, 2022 at 11:36AM
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Recap: Wizards get 65 combined from Porzingis and Kuzma, lose 114-107 to Clippers - NBA.com
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