NBA: Kyle Kuzma lead Wizards to win over Joel Embiid, 76ers
Kyle Kuzma #33 of the Washington Wizards shoots over Tobias Harris #12 of the Philadelphia 76ers during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center on February 02, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images/AFP
Kyle Kuzma scored 24 points, Montrezl Harrell added 14 and the Washington Wizards defeated the host Philadelphia 76ers 106-103 on Wednesday.
Spencer Dinwiddie added 14 points, 12 rebounds and 10 assists, and Rui Hachimura added 11 points for the Wizards, who snapped a six-game losing streak. Corey Kispert also had 11.
Harrell’s clutch runner in the lane with 52.5 seconds remaining gave the Wizards a 102-98 lead. After the 76ers trimmed the margin to a single point, Dinwiddie hit two free throws in the final second to seal it.
The Wizards played without three-time All-Star Bradley Beal (wrist) and Thomas Bryant (ankle).
The @WashWizards won a tough matchup in Philly led by Kyle Kuzma!@kylekuzma: 24 PTS | 7 REB | 3 BLK | 4-6 3PM pic.twitter.com/yefv5KkPdh
— NBA (@NBA) February 3, 2022
Joel Embiid had 27 points, 14 rebounds and six assists for the Sixers.
Embiid was just named the Eastern Conference Player of the month for the second straight time, but the Sixers couldn’t extend their five-game winning streak.
Tyrese Maxey added 22 points, eight rebounds and seven assists and Tobias Harris contributed 18 points and nine rebounds. Georges Niang scored 12 points and Isaiah Joe had 11.
Seth Curry (back), Shake Milton (back) and Furkan Korkmaz (knee) sat out for the Sixers.
The Wizards bolted to a 12-point lead midway through the second quarter before the Sixers responded and closed within 53-50.
Battled all the way through and came out with the W 😤
Highlights from tonight's win in Philly 📺⤵️#DCAboveAll | @Verizon pic.twitter.com/0IsxdcZWn3
— Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) February 3, 2022
Embiid stayed hot, hit a short jumper and Philadelphia trailed 54-52 with 3:01 remaining.
Washington missed eight straight shots and went more than four minutes without a field goal before Kuzma connected on a 3-pointer with 1:19 left.
Still, the Wizards went into the locker room with a 59-54 advantage at halftime thanks in large part to Kuzma’s 17 points.
The Sixers came out aggressive in the third and went ahead 64-61 with 8:40 to go after a thunderous one-handed dunk by Embiid.
The Wizards regained the lead 70-68 with 5:03 left after Kispert dropped in a trey from the corner.
Washington held on for an 81-79 advantage at the end of the third.
Kispert hit another 3-pointer and the Wizards pulled out to an 86-81 lead with 9:22 remaining.
Trailing 88-85, Embiid drove to the basket and converted a three-point play to tie the game with 7:00 left. Embiid then found a wide open Niang for a layup and a two-point lead. On the Sixers’ next offensive trip, Niang hit a 3-pointer for a 93-88 advantage.
The Wizards closed within 95-94 when Harrell scored in the lane with 4:01 to go.
