Washington lost both games of their back-to-back over the weekend, losing to the Spurs in double-overtime (157-153) and the Cavaliers (92-86) in another contest that was winnable before late-game execution plagued Wes Unseld Jr.’s squad.
“I think it was more about us than them, honestly,” Kyle Kuzma told FortyEightMinutes and other media after the Cleveland game (via zoom). “We knew what they were trying to do and accomplish. We just didn’t execute with the game on the line and it bit us on the butt.”
Washinton is now 27-33 on the season and current holder of the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference. FiveThirtyEight gives the club an 0.7 percent chance at making the postseason.
Cleveland is in a much better spot (88 percent chance). The team has been without Darius Garland (lingering back issues) and Caris LeVert (right foot sprain) since returning from the All-Star (1-1). Lauri Markkanen returned to the lineup, however, and led the team in scoring during both games. The former Bull had 23 points on Saturday night (6-for-9 from behind the three-point line).
Wiz-Cavs Postgame Coach Talk
Wes Unseld Jr. – “We’ve just got to be better…We played 42 pretty solid minutes, but the last six minutes got away from us. Maybe we were just trying to do too much down the stretch.”
J.B. Bickerstaff – “It’s not always going to be perfect and it’s not always going to be pretty, but our guys want to do whatever it takes to win.”
More Wizards Notes
- Kuzma led the Wizards with 34 points (13-of-22 shooting) against the Cavs, including eight three-pointers made (career-high). While Kuzma seemed like a trade candidate leading up to the deadline, the organization wants him to be a part of the long-term future.
- Kristaps Porzingis (knee) didn’t suit up in either game of the back-to-back and there isn’t a clear timetable for him to make his Wizards debut. KP is progressing in practice, though he hasn’t even participated in 3-on-3 since arriving in Washington.
- Help is on the way for Washington, as the team is bringing back Tomas Satoransky after the point guard agreed to a buyout with the Spurs.
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