The Washington Wizards have little to show for a rough season, although they do have a rare opportunity Monday to earn a second consecutive victory when they visit the Charlotte Hornets.
The Wizards have won just seven games this season, with the most recent of those Saturday in a 105-103 road victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves, when Kyle Kuzma scored a season-high 31 points.
The result halted a 16-game losing streak and improved Washington 2-21 in road games.
“We have a disappointed locker room when things don’t go our way, and that’s the way it should be,” Wizards coach Brian Keefe said. “We have people who want to be competitive, who want to win, who are very, very involved. So they were thrilled.”
The next trick for the Wizards will be trying to win two games in a row, something they’ve done once this season and not since late October.
Minnesota’s 103 points reflected the lowest total of the season allowed by Washington.
The Wizards needed something positive to build on, particularly since the franchise record of 67 losses, set last season, is looming. They already have 41 losses before the All-Star break.
“Remembering that feeling is the most important thing,” Kuzma said. “Remembering what it feels like to win and really trying to feel it every night. Not every night, but we haven’t won in a while, and we hope we’ve figured out what we need to do.”
The Hornets’ 107-104 home loss to the Denver Nuggets on Saturday extended their losing streak to four games.
A comeback from a 16-point deficit in the second half put the Hornets up by four points with less than a minute to play before the Nuggets scored the game’s last seven points.
Charlotte coach Charles Lee continues to provide a positive message.
“We dug deep and tried to do everything we possibly could to help impact winning,” Lee said. “Everybody up and down the roster had moments of helping us and impacting the game. … Love what we’re building, love the growth we continue to show, and the progress we’re making.”
The Hornets had center Mark Williams back in action after missing a pair of games with a left foot injury. He supplied 20 points and 15 rebounds.
Now, Charlotte’s backcourt might be taking another blow. Vasilije Micic departed Saturday’s game with an injured left ankle. The Hornets already are missing LaMelo Ball (ankle), with his return not likely to come until midweek at the earliest.
The Wizards had a player achieve a milestone during the weekend with swingman Corey Kispert reaching the 3,000-point mark for his career. He did so in his 274th game.
It’s unclear if the Wizards will have center Alex Sarr after he missed the past three games with an ankle injury.
One of Washington’s victories came against the Hornets, 113-110 on Dec. 26 at home. Jordan Poole had 25 points for the Wizards in that game, while reaching the mark just three times since then and once since missing five of seven games into the start of January.
–Field Level Media
