Kuzma scores 23, Wizards deal Pistons 8th straight loss

Published Feb. 14, 2022 9:39 p.m. ET

Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Kuzma scored 17 of his 23 points in the third quarter, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16, and Deni Avdija had 12 points and a career-high 15 rebounds as the Washington Wizards sent the Detroit Pistons to their eighth straight loss, 103-94 on Monday night.

Saddiq Bey led Detroit (12-45) with 24 points. Jeremi Grant scored 14 and Cade Cunningham, who leads NBA rookies in scoring, was in foul trouble for much of the game and finished with 12 points.

Washington (26-30), losers of nine of 11, took a 75-74 lead on Ish Smith’s jumper with 2:47 left in the third. Kuzma scored seven points in the final 80 seconds of the quarter as the Wizards took an 87-78 lead after three.

The Pistons, held scoreless for more than four minutes late in the fourth quarter, are 4-25 on the road.

In his first game since Detroit traded for him, Marvin Bagley III had 10 points, and collided with Washington’s Rui Hachimura early in the second quarter. Bagley was assessed a flagrant foul, Hachimura converted on a four-point play and left the game later in the quarter with a sprained right ankle.

TIP-INS

Pistons: G Frank Jackson was out with a back injury. …C Luke Garza was on a G League assignment. … Bagley hadn’t played since Jan. 29, when he was with Sacramento.

Wizards: Coach Wes Unseld Jr. hopes that F/C Kristaps Porzingis, acquired from Dallas last week, will be able to play before the All-Star break. Porzingis is out with a bone bruise in his right knee. “He’s doing a little bit more every day on the floor,” Unseld said. “That’s a positive sign, but we still have to be cautious with it. When the time’s right, he’s ready.” … C Daniel Gafford is out of the health and safety protocol, but is reconditioning, Unseld said.

UP NEXT

Pistons: Visit the Boston Celtics on Wednesday.

Wizards: Visit the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday.

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