Kuzma returns from injury and Wizards top Blazers 126-101

PORTLAND,Ore. (AP) — Kyle Kuzma returned from an ankle sprain and scored 33points, making six 3-pointers, to lead the Washington Wizards to a126-101 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Tuesdaynight.

KristapsPorzingis added 28 points and 12 rebounds for the Wizards, who havewon three of their last four games.

“We’remaking strides. I think we did a good job,” Kuzma said. “I thinkthe biggest way — we talk about efficiency — is just the way wewere playing, playing the right way, playing extra pass basketball,moving the ball around. That’s going to cause a lot of efficientnights because you’re getting quality shots.”

Afterward,Kuzma posted to Twitter:“Feels good to be back hoopin.”

DamianLillard had 39 points, 10 rebounds and six assists for the Blazers.Anfernee Simons added 17 points but sprained his right ankle latein the third quarter and had to be helped to the locker room.Blazers coach Chauncey Billups said X-rays were negative.

“Once I sawhim stay down, I was definitely concerned. That makes thingstougher for us,” Lillard said.

The Blazerswere already playing without Jerami Grant because of the concussionprotocol and big man Jusuf Nurkic, out with a left calf strain.

The finalmargin was the Wizards’ biggest lead of the second half. CamReddish made a 3-pointer that had the Blazers within 105-90 with8:11 left. Shaedon Sharpe got Portland closer at 107-97 with 5:14to go.

A series ofcalls against the Blazers, including a flagrant foul and atechnical on Lillard, stalled Portland’s momentum. It was the firstflagrant foul of Lillard’s career.

Both teamswere playing the second of back-to-backs.

The Blazershit 23 3-pointers in a 127-115 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers, whowere without NBA career scoring leader LeBron James.TheWizards fell 135-126 at the Golden State Warriors.

The newestBlazers, Reddish and Matisse Thybulle, started together for thesecond straight game after both were acquired at last week’s tradedeadline.

Kuzma, whomissed four games with a left ankle sprain, hit back-to-back3-pointers to give the Wizards a 31-24 lead at the end of the firstquarter, but Lillard hit a 3-pointer from nearly half court at thebuzzer.

Lillardcrashed into some sideline seats chasing a ball midway through thesecond quarter and came up limping, but he walked off anydiscomfort.

Kuzma had19 points and the Wizards led 59-52 at the break. They shot 60.5%from the floor in the opening half.

BradleyBeal’s 3-pointer gave the Wizards a 72-60 lead in the thirdquarter. They led 97-80 going into the final quarter. Kuzma hit athree-quarter court 3 at the buzzer.

“I tooksome extra time (off from the injury) and I thought I thought thatwas really, really worth it for me to come out and play the type ofgame I did today,” said Kuzma, who missed his first three shots butthen made his next six. “Just feeling healthy. Felt good.”

TIP-INS

Wizards:The Wizards dropped the other meeting with the Blazers this season,124-116, at Capital One Arena. The Wizards have lost six straightat home in the series against Portland. ... “I thought we hadanother good offensive night,” coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “ Ithelps when you throw 17 3′s in.”

TrailBlazers: The Blazers were without starter Jermai Grant for thesecond straight game because he is in the concussion protocol. ...The NBA announced that Lillard and Simons will take part in the3-point contest on Saturday for All-Star weekend. Joing them willbe Tyrese Haliburton (Indiana), Tyler Herro (Miami), Buddy Hield(Indiana), Kevin Huerter (Sacramento), Lauri Markkanen (Utah) andJayson Tatum (Boston).