Kuzma FT lifts Wizards over Mavs 127-126 despite Doncic’s 41

DALLAS (AP) – Kyle Kuzma scored 30 points and made one of two free throws to break the tie with 4.2 seconds left to lift the Washington Wizards to a 127-126 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

Luka Doncic had 41 points and 15 rebounds for the Mavericks. Doncic was still wearing his jersey, which he tore when he missed a free throw that would have given Dallas the lead with 12.5 seconds left when he collided with Kumza while driving down the sideline.

The Mavericks were challenged, but the challenge was confirmed. Kuzma missed the first free kick, but scored the second.

Doncic tried twice to pass Spencer Dinwiddie of the double team on final possession. The Wizards knocked the first out of bounds and Delon Wright stole the second to seal the win.

Kristaps Porzingis was out with an ankle injury on his first trip to Dallas since the Mavericks sent him to the Wizards last February for Dinwiddie and Davis Bertans.

The 7-foot-3 Latvian, whose pairing with Doncic never worked out the way Dallas envisioned, received light applause after a video dedicated during the break between the first and second quarters.

It was Washington’s first game since sending Rui Hachimura to the Los Angeles Lakers for Kendrick Nunn and a draft pick. Nunn was available but did not play.

The Wizards started the five-game trip with a third straight win, while Dallas finished 1-3 at home, losing their eighth loss in 11 games.

Bradley Beal scored 22 points on a 3-pointer, one of three scoring changes in the last three minutes. Denis Avdiy had 15 points and 10 rebounds.

Dwight Powell scored a career-high 22 points with nine rebounds for Dallas. Dinwiddie had 20 points and eight assists.

Josh Green made his first seven shots and finished with 16 points, the most by a Dallas defenseman in four games since returning from a 20-game absence with a sprained right elbow.

TIP-INS

Wizards: Porzingis, who sprained his left ankle in a previous game against Orlando, is listed weekly. … Daniel Gafford played 19 minutes before fouling with 6:32 left for nine points on seven rebounds. … Corey Kispert had 14 points, Monte Morris had 13 and Wright had 10 points, six assists and three steals.

Mavericks: F Christian Wood missed his third game after breaking his left thumb in a loss to Atlanta. The team said he would be re-priced this week. … Dorian Finney-Smith scored 12 points.

NEXT

Wizards: All three Texas cities are on the five-game road trip, with Houston set to finish back-to-back on Wednesday. Last season, the Rockets won a two-game set against the Wizards. Stop in San Antonio after a trip to New Orleans.

Mavericks: A two-game trip kicks off in Phoenix Thursday, where Dallas dropped 22 points in the second half of a 107-105 loss in the season opener.