MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Washington Wizards have finally broken through! After enduring the agony of 16 consecutive losses, the Wizards celebrated with a narrow 105-103 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Saturday night. Kyle Kuzma led the charge, scoring a season-high 31 points and proving pivotal for Washington, which now improves to 7-41 this season.
The game, held at the Target Center in Minneapolis, provided the Wizards their first road win after suffering through 21 consecutive losses away from home. Jordan Poole chipped in with 19 points, and Bilal Coulibaly and Jonas Valanciunas contributed 14 and 13 points, respectively, helping Washington secure this much-needed win.
Despite the excitement on the Wizards’ side, the Timberwolves were hampered by the absence of key players. The All-Star Anthony Edwards missed the game due to illness, and Julius Randle was sidelined with a groin issue as coach Chris Finch indicated would keep him out for “more than a few days.”
Without these starters, Minnesota struggled to maintain momentum, seeing their five-game winning streak come to an end. Even with Jaden McDaniels leading the Timberwolves with 23 points and 12 rebounds, it wasn't enough to keep pace against the Wizards, who, after leading for significant portions of the game, clung to victory.
With under four minutes left, the Wizards held a seven-point lead, but things turned tense when they committed turnovers late. The Timberwolves had the opportunity to steal the game, but Nickeil Alexander-Walker's three-point shot rimmed out with just three seconds on the clock, allowing Corey Kispert to secure the rebound.
Reflecting on the moment, Wizards coach Brian Keefe admitted, "We didn’t execute what we wanted to. I probably could have called a timeout, so that's on me." This admission came after Kuzma's initially botched inbound pass, which led to Alexander-Walker getting the open shot.
At one point during the game, Kuzma demonstrated incredible scoring ability by netting 16 straight points for his team during the second quarter. This momentum shift proved important as Washington regained control, showing their resilience against Minnesota's attempts to rally.
The Timberwolves, frustrated by their inability to counter Washington’s defense, finished the game shooting only 32.6 percent from the field and were restricted to 27.3 percent from three-point range after halftime.
Despite these challenges, Minnesota continues to display strong ball movement, finishing the game with 29 assists. Yet the absence of several key offensive threats took its toll, especially as Naz Reid left the contest early with a finger injury.
After the game, Kuzma shared, "Basketball is alwaysbetter when you get wins. For this group, we needed a win because it’s been a really tough, tough season." This victory, marking their seventh of the season, was not merely about breaking the losing streak but also about reigniting hope within the Wizards’ ranks.
Both teams are set to hit the court again on Monday night, with the Wizards visiting Charlotte and the Timberwolves hosting Sacramento. For Washington, this match marked not only the end of their frustrating streak but also signaled the potential turning point they desperately needed.
While the Wizards celebrate this sweet victory, they remain aware of the obstacles still to come, confident they can carry this momentum forward. On the flip side, the Timberwolves must regroup and rethink strategies to overcome their recent setbacks and injuries.
The road to recovery will not be easy; both teams must now navigate the challenges posed by their next opponents, as the competitive nature of the NBA keeps pushing everyone to bring their best day after day. The Wizards, especially, hope this win shines the light on what can be achieved when the team unites on the court.