Kuzma's buzzer-beater lifts Wiz over slumping Pistsons in OT

Published Dec. 8, 2021 10:11 p.m. ET

Associated Press

DETROIT (AP) — Kyle Kuzma hit a 3 with 0.6 seconds left in overtime and the Washington Wizards handed the Detroit Pistons their 10th straight loss, 119-116 Wednesday night.

Kuzma scored 26 points and Bradley Beal added 25 for the Wizards, who blew a 13-point lead in the fourth quarter.

Jeremi Grant scored 28 points for the Pistons, who haven’t won since beating the Indiana Pacers 97-89 on Nov. 17. The 10-game skid matches Detroit’s longest since a 13-game slide from Nov. 15-Dec. 9, 2014. They also lost 10 straight from Feb. 24-March 14, 2015.

Washington led by 13 with 7:14 left, but Frank Jackson’s 3-pointer pulled the Pistons within 104-102 with 1:46 to play.

After both teams missed, Beal hit a floater with 31 seconds left to make it 106-102.

Isaiah Stewart scored to make it a two-point game, and Beal was called for a backcourt violation with 12.9 seconds left before Spencer Dinwiddie fouled Grant with 2.3 seconds remaining.

He hit both shots, and Beal's jumper hit the side of the backboard as time expired.

Cade Cunningham's fourth layup of overtime made it 116-116 with 23 seconds left, but Kuzma hit the winner.

Caldwell-Pope added 13 points for the Wizards, who outscored Detroit 52-38 in the paint and finished with a 13-7 edge on the offensive glass.

Daniel Gafford had seven points, nine rebounds and six blocks.

The usually offensively challenged Pistons put up 60 points in the first half, good enough for an eight-point lead, but Caldwell-Pope scored 10 points in the first two minutes of the third quarter as the Wizards made it 62-62.

Grant kept the Pistons in the game with 12 points in the period, but Washington led 89-86 going into the fourth quarter.

For the second quarter in a row, the Wizards caught Detroit flat-footed, starting with an 8-2 run. Pistons coach Dwane Casey called timeout after Kuzma's 3-pointer made it 97-88 with 9:34 to play.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Caldwell-Pope (2013) and Spencer Dinwiddie (2014) were drafted by the Pistons in back-to-back seasons and played two years together before Dinwiddie was traded to the Chicago Bulls.

Pistons: Cunningham picked up the first technical of his career for arguing a second-quarter call.

UP NEXT

Wizards: Host the Utah Jazz on Saturday.

Pistons: Visit the New Orleans Pelicans on Friday.

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