Kyle Kuzma, Donovan Mitchell look to lead Wizards, Cavs to more success
Kyle Kuzma and Donovan Mitchell are off to sizzling starts for their respective teams.
Kuzma will look to keep the unbeaten Washington Wizards churning along on the young season Sunday night when they visit Mitchell and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Kuzma collected 22 points and 13 rebounds in Washington’s 114-107 win over the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday before scoring 26 points in a 102-100 victory over the Chicago Bulls on Friday. Those are strong performances considering the 27-year-old appeared to be going through the motions during the preseason.
Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. has noticed a change in Kuzma on the court this season.
Bradley Beal sank the game-winning shot with 7.4 seconds to play against the Bulls.
In addition to scoring, Beal has recorded at least five assists in a career-high 19 consecutive games dating back to last season.
Cleveland enters its home opener on a high, and Mitchell is the undisputed reason as to why.
Mitchell has paid immediate dividends since being acquired from the Utah Jazz in a blockbuster deal. The three-time All-Star became the first player in Cavaliers’ franchise history to open a season with back-to-back 30-point performances.
Mitchell collected 31 points and nine assists in Cleveland’s 108-105 setback to the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday before adding 32 points, nine rebounds and eight assists in a 128-96 rout of the Bulls on Saturday.
The pressure aspect might be a tough pill to swallow, however.
The Cavaliers likely will be without All-Star guard Darius Garland for a second straight game on Sunday because of a lacerated left eyelid.
Cleveland coach J.B. Bickerstaff did his best to put a positive spin on it, saying “miracles do happen.”
