Kuzma scores 30, Wizards beat Raptors to edge closer in East

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) shoots against Toronto Raptors forward Precious Achiuwa (5) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Kuzma scored the game’s first 10 points and finished with 30, Kristaps Porzingis added 25 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the Toronto Raptors 119-108 on Thursday night in the opener of a two-game set between Eastern Conference playoff contenders.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma (33) dribbles during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Daniel Gafford scored 18 points and Delon Wright had a season-high 11 assists for the Wizards (30-32), who moved within percentage points of the ninth-place Raptors (31-33) in the East standings.

O.G. Anunoby scored 26 points and Jakob Poeltl had 23 points and 13 rebounds for the Raptors, who had won five of their previous six games.

Washington beat Toronto at home in the regular season for the first time since Feb. 1, 2018, ending a six-game winning streak for the Raptors at Capital One Arena.

Kuzma essentially put the game away early in the fourth quarter when he found Corey Kispert for a 3, buried a step-back 3 of his own and drove for a layup to conclude a 12-2 run that made it 99-80. The Raptors made a late push but did not get closer than eight points.

The Wizards had a 59-50 lead at halftime that could have been bigger if not for a couple of lulls. Kuzma made two 3s and had an emphatic dunk during his game-opening burst, but Toronto responded with an 18-2 run. The Wizards went on a 12-2 run for a 50-36 lead in the second quarter; Toronto countered with a 10-0 flurry.

The Wizards had more explosiveness and outside shooting touch throughout, shooting 46.7% from 3-point range to the Raptors’ 27.3% and finishing with 16 fast-break points to the Raptors’ four.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Washington Wizards center Kristaps Porzingis (6) dunks against Toronto Raptors forward Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) watches the dunk. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Pascal Siakam had 13 points and 11 rebounds for Toronto. Scottie Barnes and Fred VanVleet had 14 points apiece, but VanVleet was 2 of 11 on 3-pointers.

TIP-INS

Raptors: This is the first of two five-game trips remaining for Toronto, which has only eight home games left. The Raptors are 20-13 at home and 11-20 on the road. … G Will Barton, waived by the Wizards on Feb. 21 and signed by the Raptors on Tuesday, played seven minutes and didn’t score.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Washington Wizards guard Bradley Beal (3) reacts after he made a 3-point basket during the first half of an NBA basketball game against the Toronto Raptors, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Wizards: Bradley Beal had 15 points. … Corey Kispert finished with 10 points and two 3-pointers, becoming the first Wizard to make 100 3s in his first two seasons. … Wright started at point guard in place of Monte Morris (lower back), who had an epidural injection on Wednesday, missed his third straight game and is considered week to week. … Washington signed F/C Jay Huff to a two-way contract. The 7-foot-1 Huff had been playing for the South Bay Lakers of the G League, averaging a league-leading 3.4 blocks per game. Huff was previously with the Wizards in the 2021 Summer League after going undrafted out of Virginia. … Washington has 13 home games left and only seven on the road, with no trips longer than one game.

© Provided by The Associated Press – Sports Toronto Raptors guard Gary Trent Jr. (33) and forward O.G. Anunoby, lower right, battle for the ball against Washington Wizards guard Delon Wright (55) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Thursday, March 2, 2023, in Washington. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

UP NEXT

The teams conclude their two-game set at Washington on Saturday.

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