Julian Reese, Wizards best Jazz, end 16-game skid
Julian Reese scored 26 points and collected 17 rebounds to help the Washington Wizards snap a 16-game losing streak with a 133-110 victory over the host Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Will Riley added 19 points, 10 rebounds and five assists for the Wizards, who avoided a franchise-record 17-game skid. Jaden Hardy chipped in 21 points while making five 3-pointers. Sharife Cooper had 17 points.
Washington shot 55.3% from the field and made 13 3-pointers.
Cody Williams led Utah with 24 points, Blake Hinson added 21 points off the bench and Kennedy Chandler chipped in 14 points and eight assists. Ace Bailey had 15 points and five rebounds. Bez Mbeng tallied 11 points, six assists, and three steals. John Konchar collected a team-high 14 rebounds for the Jazz, who have lost three in a row and seven of eight.
Washington seized control late in the first quarter behind a 16-4 run. The Wizards opened the run by scoring on four straight possessions. Hardy and Riley capped it off with back-to-back baskets, giving Washington a 31-17 lead.
The Wizards extended their lead to 31 before halftime. Back-to-back layups from Reese punctuated a 24-5 run that put Washington up 66-35 with 2:49 left in the second quarter. Utah scored one basket in a 5 ½ minute stretch - a running layup from Chandler - which allowed the Wizards to put the game away early.
Washington's lead grew to a game-high 37 when Anthony Gill finished off a run of baskets on three straight possessions with a layup that made it 99-62 with 3:02 left in the third quarter.
The Jazz went just 3 of 20 from 3-point range through the first three quarters.
Utah used a 23-2 run to pull within 13 in the fourth quarter. Williams' pullup jumper cut Washington's lead to 115-102 with 5:25 left, but the Jazz could not draw any closer.