Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma goes to the basket in front of Miami Heat forward Jimmy Butler (22) and forward Nikola Jovic during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, March 10, 2024, at Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)
MIAMI — Kyle Kuzma scored 32 points and the Washington Wizards held on to beat the Miami Heat 110-108 Sunday night for their second straight victory after ending a 16-game streak.
Corey Kispert finished with 22 points, Deni Avdija added 16 and Tyus Jones had 12 points and 16 assists for the Wizards, who earned their first road win since Jan. 29, ending an eight-year skid away matches.
“We have to stay consistent. That’s been our Achilles heel all year: inconsistency,” Kuzma said. “We have always been inconsistent. If we can continue to show this type of fight and courage in the next game against Memphis, then maybe I will have a different answer.
Kuzma made 12 of 16 free throws and had nine rebounds and four of Washington’s 35 assists, four short of the team’s season high. Jones finished with a turnover.
READ: Wizards end 16-game losing streak with win over Hornets
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– Washington Wizards (@WashWizards) March 11, 2024
Jimmy Butler scored 23 points, while Duncan Robinson, Terry Rozier and Bam Adebayo each finished with 16 for the Heat, who lost their third straight game and fell to eighth in the East.
Kuzma made a 3-pointer that started and closed a 22-10 spurt that gave Washington a 110-100 lead with 2:45 to play.
“You get to the last six minutes of the game and you don’t want to give anybody anything,” Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. “Any type of air space, especially when we play possession games. You don’t want to challenge anyone and they made us pay for that.
The Wizards shot 16 of 39 from 3-point range, including 6 of 9 in the fourth quarter.
“We’re trying to get to 40. That’s our minimum goal for every game,” Washington interim coach Brian Keefe said. “We shot really well in the second half.”
READ: Wizards tie franchise record with 16th consecutive loss
Miami rallied with eight straight points capped by Caleb Martin’s layup with 32 seconds remaining that ended the Heat’s surge.
Kuzma was called for an offensive foul, giving Miami a final possession on a possible tie or go-ahead 3-pointer. But Robinson and Butler missed 3-pointers, giving Washington the victory.
“We played their game more than ours,” Butler said. “A top-to-bottom pickup game, and they’re good at it. They made some shots tonight and we didn’t guard and that’s the league.
Trailing since the end of the first quarter, the Wizards took the lead for good on Kuzma’s three-pointer with 8:17 left in the fourth quarter, making the score 91-90.
“We are focused on our organic growth,” Keefe said. “That’s what matters most: getting better every day. Of every practice, of every game, of every shootaround.
The Heat had won 11 of 14 before their current skid.
“We have to maintain the right level of play,” Rozier said. “We have to have a way of playing and maintain it throughout the match.”
Patty Mills’ layup midway through the second quarter gave the Heat a 43-32 lead.
The Wizards rallied and cut it to 52-48 on Avdija’s layup with 34 seconds left before Adebayo’s hook gave Miami a six-point lead at the break.
The Heat were without guard Tyler Herro (right medial tendonitis) and forward Kevin Love (right heel bruise), who missed their eighth and sixth consecutive games, respectively.
Wizards forward Marvin Bagley III missed his third straight game with lower back spasms, while a sprained left toe sidelined Washington forward Richaun Holmes.
NEXT SCHEDULE
Wizards: Play at Memphis on Tuesday.
Heat: Host Denver on Wednesday.
