Kuzma FT lifts Wizards over Mavs 127-126 despite Doncic’s 41

DALLAS (AP) —Kyle Kuzma scored 30 points and made one of two free throws tobreak a tie with 4.2 seconds remaining, lifting the WashingtonWizards to a 127-126 victory over Dallas Mavericks on Tuesdaynight.

Luka Doncichad 41 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks. Doncic still hadon the jersey he ripped when he missed a free throw that would haveput Dallas in front with 12.5 seconds to go when he bumped Kumza ona drive along the sideline.

The Maverickschallenged, but the call was confirmed. Kuzma missed the first freethrow but swished the second.

“I thinkthere was some debate about whether he stepped out, whether he(was) fouled,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Thankfully,fouled. Those types of situations happen fast. You’ve got to make asplit-second decision.”

Doncic triedtwice to pass to Spencer Dinwiddie out of a double team on thefinal possession. The Wizards knocked the first out of bounds, andformer Maverick Delon Wright stole the second to seal thevictory.

“Luka had theright intention, was making the right play,” Dinwiddie said. “Delonjust made a good play with his hands, something he’s knownfor.”

KristapsPorzingis was out with an ankle injury in his first trip to Dallassince the Mavericks traded him to the Wizards last February forDinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

The 7-foot-3Latvian, whose pairing with Doncic never worked the way Dallasenvisioned, received light applause after a video tribute duringthe break between the first and second quarters.

It wasWashington’s first game since sending Rui Hachimura to the LosAngeles Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and draft picks. Nunn wasavailable but didn’t play.

The Wizardsopened a five-game trip with a third consecutive victory whileDallas finished a 1-3 homestand with its eighth loss in 11games.

Washingtonswept the two-game series for the second consecutive season aftergoing 14 years without a sweep of Dallas.

“It’s easy toget excited about one performance. We’ve got along road tripahead,” Unseld said. “It could be a catalyst for something, to be alittle short-handed, able to compete on the road, an area whichwe’ve struggled at times.”

Bradley Bealscored 22 points with a 3-pointer that was one of three leadchanges in the final three minutes. Deni Avdija had 15 points and10 rebounds.

Dwight Powellscored a season-high 22 points with nine rebounds for Dallas.Dinwiddie had 20 points and eight assists.

Josh Greenmade his first seven shots and finished with 16 points, the mostfor the Dallas guard in four games since returning from a 20-gameabsence with a right elbow sprain.

TIP-INS

Wizards:Daniel Gafford played 19 minutes before fouling out with 6:32remaining, getting nine points with seven rebounds. ... CoreyKispert scored 14 points, Monte Morris had 13 and Wright had 10points, six assists and three steals.

Mavericks: FChristian Wood missed his third game since breaking his left thumbin a loss to Atlanta. The team has said he would be re-evaluatedthis week. ... Dorian Finney-Smith scored 12 points.

MISSED ’EM BOTH

Porzingisalso missed the first meeting against his former team inWashington, won by the Wizards 113-105. He was out with a leftgroin strain for that November game. He’s listed as week-to-weekafter spraining his left ankle Saturday against Orlando.

UPNEXT

Wizards: Allthree Texas cities are part of the five-game trip, with Houstonnext to finish a back-to-back Wednesday. The Rockets swept thetwo-game set with Wizards last season. The San Antonio stop isafter a trip to New Orleans.

Mavericks: Atwo-game trip starts Thursday in Phoenix, where Dallas blew a22-point lead in the second half of a 107-105 loss in the seasonopener.