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Wizards extend losing streak in San Antonio to 22 games with latest loss to Spurs

By Chase Hughes

Wizards extend losing streak in San Antonio to 22 games originally appeared on NBC Sports Washington

The Washington Wizards lost to the Spurs 116-99 in San Antonio on Monday night. Here are five observations from what went down…

The streak continues

The Wizards have not won a game in San Antonio since before Deni Avdija was born and after yet another loss, their 22nd straight in a span of 22 years, that streak will live on. Washington led the Spurs by six points at halftime, only to be outdone by 12 points in the third quarter and then 11 points in the fourth. 

This seemed like it could be the year. The Wizards, now 13-8, have been a much better team so far this season than the Spurs, who improved to 6-13 with Monday’s win. As teams from different conferences, they only play in San Antonio once a season, so the Wizards will have to try again next year.

It was another rough shooting night from three for the Wizards. They made just 9-for-31 from long range, good for 29.0%. They also allowed 72 points in the paint and were beaten 17-0 on the fastbreak. It also didn’t help that they shot 8-for-13 (61.5%) at the free-throw line.

Their defense, though, may be a growing concern at the moment. Three of their five-highest point totals allowed came on this four-game road trip

The Wizards closed out their road trip by splitting it evenly at 2-2. They will return home to host the Timberwolves on Wednesday.

White-hot

If you only watched the third quarter on Monday night, you would think Derrick White of the Spurs is an elite scorer, a superstar, maybe even a living legend. He was completely unstoppable and it kind of came out of nowhere. No disrespect to the guy, but he came into this game averaging 11.4 points while shooting 38.6% from the field and 28.7% from three.

But in the third quarter, he caught fire and scored 18 of his 24 points on the night. White played the entire frame and shot 7-for-9, including 3-for-4 from three. He also dished three assists. Everyone in the NBA is good and many players are capable of making teams pay for taking them lightly. Whether that was the case here or not, White certainly made the Wizards pay.

Gafford stepped up

Coming off two big games in which he helped lead the Wizards to wins in different ways, Gafford came through again on Monday. He had 11 points, 10 rebounds and a block. He was the hot hand in the first half with 11 points as he helped the Wizards score 36 paint points by halftime. They had 56 for the game.

Gafford did it all while clearly playing through some pain in his right thumb. It was less than two weeks ago that he missed a game due to the injury and he continues to play with black tape on the finger. And in this game, at least twice he got hit on his hand and each time the contact seemed to re-aggravate the injury. Gafford played through it and played well, but there were several moments where he was wincing and holding his hand.

Keldon Johnson

The Spurs aren’t the team they were for the better part of the past two-plus decades, but they do have some emerging young players. One of them is Keldon Johnson, who is taking a sizable leap this season, his third in the NBA. He had a solid game against the Wizards with 13 points on 6-for-8 shooting in 35 minutes. After winning a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic team, he has come back noticeably better in his age-22 season.

Why should that interest Wizards fans, you may wonder? Well, he’s not the only player the Wizards have seen recently from the 2019 class who is showing significant progress. Tyler Herro of the Heat would be another. Remember, Rui Hachimura was also a first-round pick in 2019. Their development is a reminder that when the Wizards get Hachimura back, he’ll prove to be quite a big addition. If they get the version of him we saw last year, that will help. But there’s a chance he gives them much more than that.

Bertans remains cold

Given his track record of needing time after injuries to find his rhythm and conditioning, perhaps it should be no surprise that Davis Bertans is struggling right now. But the degree that he is struggling is at a minimum worth noting and, if it continues, could present head coach Wes Unseld Jr. with an interesting decision to make.

Monday’s game was the fourth for Bertans since the left ankle sprain which kept him out for 10 games. He went 0-for-3 from three, continuing what has been a stunning drought from long range. He is now 1-for-19 from the perimeter since coming back, which for a shooter of his ilk is quite surprising. Unseld Jr. may have to determine his threshold pretty soon.

If Bertans shoots like this, it will be tough to allow him to keep shooting, yet the Wizards need help with their threes and no one on the roster is capable of getting scorching hot from long range like he can. He just hasn’t been able to do it in a while.

Kyle Kuzma outlines his priorities for 2023 NBA Free Agency

By Chase Hughes
Kuzma outlines his priorities for free agency originally appeared on NBC Sports WashingtonWASHINGTON -- Kyle Kuzma sat across from Wizards president Tommy Sheppard on Saturday in Sheppard's office at the team's practice facility in Southeast D.C., as the two conducted Kuzma's exit interview to put a cap on his 2022-23 season. The conversation, which lasted about a half-hour, will likely be one of many in the coming months between the Wizards and Kuzma's camp as they aim to re-sign the 27-year-old to a new contract and keep him in Washington.Kuzma, though, will surely have plenty of options. He's played his way into a prime opportunity to cash in on what could be the best contract of his career, a multi-year deal that may reach nine figures. He is an ascending player who has proven he can be a key ingredient on a winning team who draws rave reviews as a teammate both on and off the court.Kuzma told NBC Sports Washington he plans to go through the full free agent process, meaning hearing pitches from different teams. But he also reminded reporters on Saturday the Wizards are well-positioned to bring him back."It's 100 percent an option... I've had a great time here," Kuzma said "I've developed my game significantly here and there's good people here. I'd be a fool to say it's not an option for me."Kuzma arrived in Washington via trade in the summer of 2021 having played four years with the Lakers. He held career averages of 15.2 points and 5.6 rebounds in L.A., but in two years with the Wizards has seen those numbers jump to 19.1 points and 7.9 rebounds per game. This season he has averaged a career-high 21.2 points.His shooting percentages have stayed remarkably stable. With the Lakers, he shot 44.8% from the field and 33.8% from three compared to 45.0% and 33.6% in D.C. But the volume has gone up considerably and his ability to become a playmaker for others has also increased.Kuzma is appreciative of the opportunity the Wizards have given him to spread his wings on offense after he took a backseat to LeBron James and Anthony Davis with the Lakers."I've grown tremendously these past two years and Wes [Unseld Jr.], Tommy [Sheppard] and Ted [Leonsis], they all gave me this platform to do this and even be in this situation. I definitely see it here because they do support me," Kuzma said.While this summer will be Kuzma's chance to capitalize on his talents financially, he kept going back to personal development as a key factor in where he chooses to play moving forward. That could work in the Wizards' favor, given how he views the last two years.The question would be, does Kuzma see more room for growth from this point moving forward?"I'm just trying to be myself. I'm trying to get better every year. It's not about money, I'm going to get paid regardless anywhere [I go] and here, too. It's about can I come into work every day and be the best version of myself, can I help lead guys, can I make other players better, can I light up rooms. All those things matter when you're trying to be successful," he said.Kuzma believes he's improved his game every season of his six-year NBA career. Kuzma said he is "irrationally confident" about his potential to keep getting better and that his goal is to "be one of the guys in the league, a top player."That next step for Kuzma could be making the All-Star team for the first time. To do that, he may have to choose a team where a large offensive role can be offered. As he learned the way this year, winning also matters.Kuzma addressed that element of free agency may signal his plans. If he does choose to leave the Wizards, he could theoretically go to a better team, as Washington fell short of the play-in tournament this season.Kuzma, though, offered some nuanced thoughts on the prospect of leaving to join a title contender and how the fact he already has a championship ring plays into that idea."I think you have to have patience. I believe to certain extents what guys like Dame [Lillard] and even Brad [Beal have said], those guys where they talk about how the grass is not always greener and stuff. Just because you go to a contender doesn't mean you're going to win a championship right away because health can be a factor," Kuzma said."It sounds good and looks good on paper, but does it look good on the court? Those things matter, but at the same time I am trying to win. I do want to compete at high levels. That's why I play this game because I'm a junkie and I love it. Life's always better when you're winning."Perhaps Kuzma can find everything he's looking for this summer all in one place.
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