WASHINGTON (AP) — Kyle Kuzma scored 28 points, Deni Avdija added 18 and the Washington Wizards snapped a 16-game losing streak with a 112-100 victory over the Charlotte Hornets on Friday night.
Washington had matched a team record of 16 consecutive losses set during the 2009-10 season, but the Wizards avoided claiming the mark alone. Charlotte now has the NBA’s longest active skid at six games despite a 32-point, 12-rebound effort from Miles Bridges.
One game after squandering a 21-point second-quarter lead against Orlando, the Wizards let a 15-point advantage get away and trailed by 10 late in the third quarter. But on a night when both teams had a terrible time shooting 3-pointers, Kuzma and Avdija were able to hurt Charlotte down the stretch by attacking the basket.
Kuzma nearly had a triple-double, finishing with nine assists and eight rebounds. Avdija had 14 rebounds, and Washington’s Richaun Holmes had 14 points and 11 rebounds without missing a shot.
KNICKS 98, MAGIC 74
NEW YORK (AP) — Jalen Brunson scored 26 points in his return from a bruised left knee and New York ended Orlando’s five-game winning streak. New York held Orlando to the lowest points total in the NBA this season.
The Knicks missed Brunson in a loss to Atlanta on Tuesday night, then barely missed at all in the early going with him back. New York started 8 for 9 from behind the arc in a game it never trailed.
The Knick won for just the fourth time in the last 12 games as they battle injuries to multiple starters. But this victory was enough to push them back ahead of Orlando into fourth place in the Eastern Conference.
Paolo Banchero had 23 points and nine rebounds for Orlando.
PELICANS 103, 76ERS 95
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Zion Williamson had 23 points and 12 rebounds and New Orleans beat a Philadelphia team spiraling without injured All-Stars Joel Embiid and Tyrese Maxey.
The Pelicans held on after a 36-point lead was trimmed to five on a Jeff Dowtin Jr. 3-pointer with 45 seconds left .
Tobias Harris had 21 points and 10 rebounds for Philadelphia. The 76ers lost for the 15th time in 21 games.
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