WASHINGTON, D.C. — Kyle Kuzma had a season-high 36 points and 14 rebounds, Bradley Beal scored 35 points, and the Washington Wizards beat the Charlotte Hornets 124-121 on Monday night.
Charlotte, which lost to Phoenix by a season-high 34 points on Sunday, was led by Gordon Hayward’s 27 points. Terry Rozier scored 25 points and Miles Bridges added 23 points and a season-high 14 rebounds.
The Hornets took a 113-111 lead on Rozier’s layup with 1:53 to play.
Kuzma’ hit a 3-pointer with 1:10 remaining to give Washington a 114-113 lead. Beal added two free throws with 39 seconds left to put the Wizards up 116-113. Beal and Kuzma each added two free throws to secure the win.
“I’m just being really aggressive,” Kuzma said. “I just put my head down and try to get to the rim, take an open 3 if it’s there. If not, not try to settle.”
Beal again started at point guard as four others were in the NBA’s health and safety protocols. He had eight assists and seven rebounds.
“They played well. They made shots. We had plenty of shots to win this game tonight, and we just didn’t,” Charlotte coach James Borrego said. “They made more plays, more shots than us tonight.”
Washington erased a 14-point Charlotte lead in the third quarter and began the fourth quarter with 11 straight points.
“I thought the game turned at the start of the fourth quarter,” Borrego said. “A big part of this loss was that group right there, not getting stops, not being back.”
Three Hornets — Vernon Carey Jr., Scottie Lewis and PJ Washington — are in the health and safety protocols. Charlotte hosts Detroit on Wednesday.
