Recap: Wizards start road trip with win in Miami

The Washington Wizards came into Miami looking for their second win in a row and in a game that came down to the wire, they were able to outlast the Heat. Kyle Kuzma dazzled as he scored 32 points, including 22 in the second half, as the Wizards held off the Heat down the stretch. Tyus Jones led the Washington offense with 16 assists in the game. Final score: Washington 110 – Miami 108. 

Sunday night’s game was the first of a four-game road trip for the Wizards and they entered the game slightly shorthanded. With Marvin Bagley III out for the third-straight game, the Wizards also came into the game without Richaun Holmes who had started in place of Bagley on Friday and was huge for the Wizards with 14 points and 11 rebounds against Charlotte. Down two centers, interim head coach Brian Keefe opted to start Kyle Kuzma at the five to go along with Deni Avdija, Corey Kispert, Bilal Coulibaly and Tyus Jones. 

Kyle Kuzma got the scoring started for the Wizards with a drive and spin, finishing with his right hand. Deni Avdija led Washington in first quarter points with seven, getting downhill and finishing at the rim. Bam Adebayo was a handful in the first, scoring eight points and corralling eight rebounds for Miami. After the first 12 minutes the Heat led 27-25.

In the second quarter the Heat continued to keep the Wizards from taking the lead. Miami shot 57% in the frame, using a balanced attack to hold on to their lead. At the break the Wizards trailed 54-48. Washington had three players score 10+ points in the first half, with Kuzma, Kispert and Avdija each reaching the mark. 

The third quarter was where the Wizards found their groove. Washington shot 50% from the floor and 45% from three in the third as they outscored Miami 33-28 in the frame. Kyle Kuzma scored 11 points in the frame, getting into the paint on each of his three field goals while also getting to the line and knocking down five free throws. Corey Kispert and Bilal Coulibaly both hit a pair of threes while Tyus Jones dished out six assists in the quarter. The Wizards entered the fourth down by just a point, 82-81.

Kyle Kuzma continued his strong play in the fourth with 11 points and connecting on a pair of three pointers, the first of which came off of a pass from Tyus Jones that gave the Wizards their first lead of the fourth with 8:17 on the clock. A pivotal moment in the game came with 6:47 left in the fourth when interim head coach Brian Keefe called for a challenge on a foul call on Deni Avdija as he battled Jimmy Butler for a rebound. After review, the call was reversed and Corey Kispert came down and knocked down a three immediately after to give the Wizards a five-point lead. 

In the closing seconds Miami held the ball with Washington up two. Duncan Robinson got off a clean look with about five seconds left that bounced off the front of the rim and, unfortunately for the Wizards, right into the hands of Miami’s Jimmy Butler. Butler squared up at the top of the arc and elevated, getting his shot off just moments before the final buzzer sounded – only to see the ball hit the back of the rim and bounce out. 

The Wizards will travel to Memphis to take on the Grizzlies on Tuesday.