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Kuzma scores 25 points as the Wizards earn their first win with a 121-119 victory over the Hawks


Kuzma scores 25 points as the Wizards earn their first win with a 121-119 victory over the Hawks

ATLANTA (AP) — Kyle Kuzma had 25 points, 11 rebounds and seven assists and the Washington Wizards beat the Atlanta Hawks 121-119 on Monday night for their first win of the season.

Jordan Poole scored 26 points for Washington and backup Corey Kispert had 21 points. The Wizards improved to 1-2 after two one-sided losses.

Jalen Johnson led the Hawks with 29 points. Trae Young, who missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer, was limited to 2-for-15 shooting. He finished the game with 14 points, 13 assists and six turnovers.

The Wizards made a season-high 21 3-pointers and overcame 13 turnovers in the first half with a much cleaner second half.

Takeaways

Wizards: Kuzma struggled in his first two appearances, but he played a key role in the Wizards' second-half comeback before leaving late in the fourth quarter and heading to the locker room.

Hawks: The injury bug hit Atlanta in opening week. De'Andre Hunter, Bogdan Bogdanovic, Kobe Bufkin and Onyeka Okongwu were unavailable, and Vit Krejci injured his right adductor muscle in the first half.

Key moment

After Kispert made one of two free throws with six seconds left and the Wizards led by two, Young had a chance to give the Hawks the win. He rushed onto the court and hesitantly took a 3-point shot that was deflected by Bilal Coulibaly and missed.

Key statistics

The No. 2 overall pick, Alex Sarr, had the edge over the No. 1 overall pick, Zaccharie Risacher, in the first match. Sarr, who was booed by the crowd all night after declining to work out for Atlanta during the draft process, had seven points, nine rebounds and two blocks for Washington. Risacher, starting in place of Hunter for the second straight game, scored four points on 1-of-8 shooting.

Next

The teams play again in Washington on Wednesday.

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AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba

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