Kuzma, Wizards turn spoilers, upend Kings

Kyle Kuzma scored 31 points and the Wizards snapped a five-game losing streak with a 109-102 upset win over the Sacramento Kings on Thursday night in Washington.

Kuzma, who also had six rebounds, had missed the team's previous two games with shoulder soreness. Deni Avdija added 17 points and Corey Kispert scored 15, sending Sacramento to their first loss in the last five meetings in Washington.

Jordan Poole scored 14 for the Wizards.

In more bad news for Sacramento, guard Kevin Huerter will be sidelined with a dislocated left shoulder and labral tear. Huerter has been out since getting injured Monday in a win against Memphis. The team gave no time frame for when Huerter might be able to return. Sacramento is currently locked in a tight race to avoid the play-in tournament in the Western Conference. NUGGETS 113, KNICKS 100 >> Michael Porter Jr. scored 31 points, Nikola Jokic notched his 22nd tripledouble of the season (30 points, 14 rebounds, 11 assists) and the Nuggets won in Denver. The Nuggets climbed within percentage points of first place in the Western Conference.

ROCKETS 127, BULLS 117 >> Jalen Green scored 26 points, Dillon Brooks had 23 before he was ejected from the game and the Rockets won their seventh straight, in Houston. Houston is now just 21/2 games behind Golden State for the final play-in spot in the Western Conference.

MAVERICKS 113, JAZZ 97 >> Luka Doncic had 34 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists and the Mavericks won in Dallas to move into the sixth and final guaranteed playoff position in the Western Conference.

MAGIC 121, PELICANS 106 >> Paolo Banchero had 20 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for second career triple-double, overcoming early shooting woes to lift the Magic in Orlando.

BUCKS 115, NETS 108 >> Damian Lillard had 30 points and 12 assists and made two late steals as the Bucks capitalized on Giannis Antetokounmpo's return at home.