Kyle Kuzma contributed 18 points and 11 rebounds, while Daniel Gafford added 16 points and 13 rebounds, propelling the Washington Wizards to a comeback victory over the San Antonio Spurs with a final score of 118-113 during Monday’s NBA action.
In a pivotal moment with just 5.1 seconds left, Gafford secured a critical dunk off a loose ball, extending Washington’s lead to five points.
Wizards’ interim coach Brian Keefe praised Gafford’s performance, highlighting his consistent effort throughout the season, especially noting his key plays and defensive prowess in the game’s closing moments that played a crucial role in sealing the victory.
“Gaff, I don’t think, gets enough credit on our team,” Keefe said. “He’s been doing this all year. The big guys, he was down there battling. Obviously had that huge one down the stretch. That offensive rebound to kind of sealed the game off. His defensive intensity, his activity on the glass. He’s been our anchor.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
The Wizards managed to erase a deficit and tie the game at 107-107, thanks to a 9-0 run capped by Jordan Poole’s three-pointer with 3:42 left on the clock. They then secured a 114-111 lead following Kuzma’s layup with 1:49 to go. Kuzma remarked on the team’s heightened focus and execution after halftime.
“We just made plays down the stretch,” Kuzma said. “Our sense of urgency was very crisp in that second half.”
This win marked the Wizards’ second consecutive victory, bringing their record to 2-1 since Wes Unseld Jr.’s transition to a front-office position, with Keefe stepping in as interim coach. Tyus Jones and Marvin Bagley III each scored 15 points, and Poole ended the game with 13 points.
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
On the opposing side, the Spurs saw contributions from Devin Vassell with 24 points and Victor Wembanyama with 22 points and 11 rebounds, though their efforts weren’t enough to extend their winning streak beyond two games. Despite coming off a narrow victory against the Minnesota Timberwolves, the Spurs struggled to maintain their momentum.
“We’ve got to get strong mentally to get to the next game,” Wembanyama said. “A seemingly easier game than the previous one, we still need to come in with the same motivation. I think we maybe were mentally tired because of the two last efforts but we’ve got to get strong because it’s not acceptable.”
Spurs coach Gregg Popovich attributed the loss to a lack of effort, intelligence, and teamwork, recognizing it as a self-inflicted defeat and calling for improved mental strength and unity in future games.
“A self-inflicted loss,” Popovich said. “I thought Washington played harder than we did. They played smarter. They executed better. We didn’t have enough people playing well or playing smart, and we did that to ourselves. It’s a tough loss because for the first time in a while, we looked young, we looked immature, we looked foolish, and we did not play with each other the way we have been.”
NBA NEWS & SCORES: Kyle Kuzma, Washington Wizards, Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs Updates
The match saw dynamic shifts, with the Wizards overcoming a 14-point deficit in the third quarter by shooting 68% in the fourth, while the Spurs’ shooting efficiency dropped to 37.5%.
Highlighting the game’s turning points, Keefe commended his team’s resilience and mental fortitude, especially during the fourth quarter, ultimately leading to their triumph.
“We kept talking about it in timeouts,” Keefe said. “Just sick with it. Keep battling. Long game. We haven’t played our best yet. When we got to the fourth quarter, I thought the guys just mentally had the stamina to kind of keep competing through the end. It was a good finish for us.”
The Wizards look forward to hosting the Los Angeles Clippers, and the Spurs are set to face the Orlando Magic in their upcoming games.
