The Wizards returned to action on Wednesday night as they hosted the Cleveland Cavaliers.
In this contest, Washington had the game tied at 90 with just over nine minutes left in the fourth, but Cleveland went on a 7-0 run and never looked back as they defeated the Wizards 114-106.
Donovan Mitchell led the Cavs with a game-high 40 points to go along with eight rebounds and five assists.
The Cavs (33-16) have won seven straight and are 15-1 in their last 16 games. Washington(9-41) has lost four straight and finished their four-game homestand 0-4.
Here’s the Great, Not So Great, and the Bottom Line of Washington’s loss to the Cavs.
Great:
-Kyle Kuzma, who missed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, did everything he could to keep the Wizards in this game. He had a team-high 28 points (11-24 FG, 5-13 3PT); Kuzma scored 10 of those 28 points in the third quarter, and he helped the Wizards take a lead in the third.
Kuzma has now scored 20-plus points in 30 total games this season.
-Corey Kispert scored 13 of his 23 points in the first half off the bench. Kispert has had 20-plus points in two out of the last three games.
-Daniel Gafford was very active against the Cavs. He had 14 points, and game-highs of 13 rebounds and four blocks; this was Gafford’s ninth double-double of the season.
Not So Great:
-Jordan Poole found his way on this list again. He was off against the Cavs. In 25 minutes of action, Poole was 0-5 FG and 0-4 from 3-pt FG, and he got booed by the fans at Capital One Arena.
In the last two games, Poole was 1-12 from the field.
Bottom Line:
The Wizards played a pretty decent game against a very good basketball team. After their effort against the Suns, Washington’s effort tonight was a welcomed sight.
Give Washington credit; they were tied with Cleveland at halftime, trailed by one after three, and had a lead early in the fourth.
The Wizards played well enough to win but needed more from Poole, and he didn’t have it tonight, which hurt them.
What’s Next?
Washington travels to Boston to face the Celtics on Friday night.
Best of the Rest:
Evan Mobley had 22 points and eight rebounds, Darius Garland added 13 points, and Jarrett Allen chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds for the Cavs.
Tyus Jones had 15 points and eight assists for the Wizards.
Washington made 16 threes on Wednesday night.
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