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NBA: Kristaps Porzingis sets career-high 41 points, Wizards best Timberwolves


Kristaps Porzingis NBA Mage

Kristaps Porzingis #6 celebrates after hitting three points in the first half with Washington Wizards teammate Kyle Kuzma #33 against the Minnesota Timberwolves at Capital One Arena on November 28, 2022 in Washington, DC. Rob Carr/Getty Images/AFP

Kristaps Porzingis scored 29 of his career-high 41 points in the first half as the Washington Wizards took a head-to-head lead in a 142-127 win over the Minnesota Timberwolves on Monday.

Porzingis is 6/10 from a 3-point range for Washington, who have scored the highest total of the season and broken a three-game losing streak.

Kyle Kuzma added 23 points, 8 rebounds and 9 assists for the Wizards, while Bradley Beal scored 22, Corey Kispert had 11 and Jordan Goodwin 10.

Minnesota has lost three games in a row after a five-game winning streak. Anthony Edwards scored 29, Jaylen Nowell added 23 from the bench, Rudy Gobert had 19 points and 7 rebounds and D’Angelo Russell scored 17.

Washington led to 27 in the first half and held a 77-58 advantage at halftime. Minnesota quickly closed the gap impressively after opening the third half with a score of 16-5.

The Wizards responded with an 11-2 lead and a 93-76 lead after Kuzma’s 3-pointer with 5:25 remaining in the third inning.

Minnesota forward Karl-Anthony Towns left the game late in the third half with a strain on his right calf muscle and did not return. He had eight points and four assists in 22 minutes.

Washington took a 109-97 lead to start the fourth inning and maintained control throughout the final period.

The Wizards have won six straight games against Minnesota, who changed direction 18 times and shot only 7 of 27 (25.9%) from three points.

Porzingis opened the game with three straight points as Washington took the lead 23-8. The 7-foot-3 center-back finished with 16 points in the first quarter.

The Wizards took a five-point lead in the second half and extended the lead to 73-46 thanks to Porzingis’ work with 2:16 remaining in the first half.

Porzingis’ 29 points before halftime marked the peak of his career in one half. Washington shot 63.4% from the field during the first half and 8/14 (57.1%) from outside the arc.

Washington played without Rui Hachimura (right ankle) for the fifth straight game, while Minnesota’s Jaden McDaniels missed the second straight game due to illness.

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