Kyle Kuzma has 33 points, Wizards beat Rockets 108-103

HOUSTON (AP)— Kyle Kuzma scored 20 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter tohelp the Washington Wizards rally for a 108-103 victory over theHouston Rockets Wednesday night.

The Wizardstrailed by as many 19 points and were down by 10 to open the fourthquarter before Kuzma took over.

The Wizardsscored the first eight points of the fourth to start a 15-2 runthat gave them an 86-83 lead with about eight minutes left. TheWizards made five free throws in that span and Kuzma had 10 pointswith two 3-pointers.

Tari Easonmade a layup for Houston after that before Kuzma made two more3-pointers in less than a minute to power an 8-0 run that pushedWashington’s lead to 94-85.

“We’ve seenit from him,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Once he getsgoing he’s shooting into a big bucket. We needed it. We trust toput the ball in his hands in these moments and he’s come up big forus.”

Houston’sAlperen Sengun had 21 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists for hissecond career triple-double. Jalen Green had 19 points on 6-of-19shooting after scoring a career-high 42 points Tuesday nightagainst Minnesota in a win that snapped a 13-game skid.

“Late thirdquarter we got away from the things that are about winning, aboutbuilding winning habits, about taking the right shot, about makingthe right path, and we’ve got to be better,” coach Stephen Silassaid. “Young and inexperienced and all that, we’ve got to dobetter.”

Four pointsby the Rockets got them within four with less than 30 seconds to gobefore Bradley Beal made two free throws to make it 107-101. A dunkby Kenyon Martin Jr. cut the lead to four again with seven secondsto go but Kuzma made 1 of 2 free throws to seal the victory.

After thepoor start to the fourth quarter, Houston got going, using an 7-2run, with two dunks from Martin, to cut the lead to 96-92 with 41/2 minutes left.

But theWizards scored the next five points to make it 100-92 with threeminutes to go.

Eric Gordonmade a basket for Houston after that but another 3 by Kuzmaextended Washington’s lead to 105-97 with less than a minute togo.

Unseld wasdisappointed in how his team started the game but impressed withthe way his guys bounced back.

“Not theprettiest game,” he said. “Didn’t have the energy in that firsthalf… but to their credit they responded after halftime. In thatfourth quarter we really ramped it up.”

The Rocketswere up by 15 at halftime and had a 13-point lead with about eightminutes left in the third. The Wizards then used a 10-2 spurt tocut the lead to 66-61 with about 6 1/2 minutes left in the quarter.Corey Kispert had five points during that stretch and Kuzma cappedit with a 3-point play.

Houstonscored the next six points, with four from Jae’Sean Tate, to extendthe lead to 72-61 with less than four minutes to go in thequarter.

NewcomerKendrick Nunn made a 3-pointer for Washington after that, and Greenadded four points for the Rockets before another 3 by Nunn cutHouston’s lead to 76-67.

The Rocketsadded a basket before a 4-0 run by the Wizards, highlighted by adunk from Kuzma cut the deficit to 78-71.

But Houstonscored the last three points of the quarter to take an 81-71 leadinto the fourth.

TIP-INS

Wizards:Kristaps Porzingis missed a second straight game with an ankleinjury. … Monte Morris sat out with a sore right hamstring. …

Rockets:Kevin Porter Jr. missed a seventh consecutive game with a bruisedleft foot. … Garrison Mathews received a flagrant foul early in thethird quarter for a hit on Daniel Gafford, that sent him tumblingto the court. ... Beal had 17 points.

NUNN’S DEBUT

Nunn made hisWashington debut after being part of the trade from the Lakers forRui Hachimura Tuesday. He had 12 points.

Unseld likedwhat he saw from his new player.

“I thought hewas good,” Unseld said. “It’s tough because we haven’t had a fullpractice. But he just played to his strengths. He’s a good player.He’s got the ability to fill it up.”