Kyle Kuzma looks to continue his torrid play on Tuesday when the Washington Wizards begin a three-game homestand against the Detroit Pistons.
Kuzma followed up a 36-point, eight-rebound performance in Washington’s 157-153 double-overtime loss to San Antonio on Friday with 34 and 13, respectively, in a 92-86 setback to Cleveland on Saturday.
He scored at least 30 points in back-to-back games for just the second time in his career.
“My shot has been feeling good over the past couple weeks leading up to the (All-Star) break,” said Kuzma, who sank a career-high eight 3-pointers against the Cavaliers. “Not just 3s, but being comfortable shooting in the midrange. … Finding that rhythm has been great for me.”
Kuzma, 26, is averaging 17.0 points per game this season to go along with career-high totals in rebounds (8.8), assists (3.1) and blocks (0.9). That’s a rather impressive return for a player who wasn’t the focal point in the Russell Westbrook trade with the Los Angeles Lakers over the summer.
“He’s shown a steady progression where it seems like every month he’s getting better. He’s playing with more confidence,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said.
Kuzma made 10 of 18 shots to finish with 23 points in Washington’s 103-94 victory over Detroit on Feb. 14. Unfortunately for the Wizards, that win was just one of four in their last 16 games.
Kuzma’s heroics aside on Saturday, Washington limped to its second lowest scoring output of the season. The Wizards didn’t help themselves by committing 18 turnovers and heading to the free-throw line just six times.
Washington is adjusting to life without star Bradley Beal, who is out for the season with a wrist injury. It is also waiting for life to begin with Kristaps Porzingis (knee), who has yet to make his debut since being acquired from Dallas at the trade deadline.
Daniel Gafford has made an impact in his return to the starting lineup, erupting for 17 points versus San Antonio and 14 against Cleveland. He made 15 of 18 shots from the floor over those two games while totaling 13 rebounds.
Unseld recently gave the 23-year-old Gafford a tepid vote of confidence about his starting role.
“I don’t necessarily want to say for the remainder of the season, but for now, until I decide otherwise,” Unseld Jr. said.
The rebuilding Pistons have answered an eight-game skid with victories in three of their last four games, including a 127-126 overtime decision at Charlotte on Sunday. Kelly Olynyk provided the heroics by accepting an inbounds pass from Killian Hayes before draining a fadeaway jumper at the buzzer in overtime.
“Sometimes you have to just read and react in this league,” said Olynyk, who finished with 20 points and eight rebounds. “I saw an opening and obviously Killian saw it as well, and that’s half the battle. You have to have both guys on the same page.”
Saddiq Bey, who had 28 points on Sunday, scored 24 in Detroit’s setback to Washington this month.
Jerami Grant, who scored 26 on Sunday, had 28 in the Pistons’ 119-116 overtime loss to the Wizards on Dec. 8.
