NBA: Wizards pull away from Bucks to earn rare back-to-back wins

WASHINGTON – Kyshawn George scored 23 points, grabbed five rebounds, and dished out five assists, while Alex Sarr recorded 16 points and a career-high 17 rebounds to lead the Washington Wizards to a 109-99 home victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Thursday.

Khris Middleton and Bub Carrington each added 13 points for Washington, while Justin Champagnie contributed 12 off the bench.

For Milwaukee, Myles Turner led the way with 21 points, 14 rebounds (a season high), and six blocks. Kyle Kuzma and Bobby Portis each scored 19 points, and Ryan Rollins added 17.

The Wizards won back-to-back games for the first time since Dec. 31-Jan. 2. The Bucks, meanwhile, are 3-13 without star Giannis Antetokounmpo, who is sidelined with a calf injury.

Washington led by as many as 13 points in the fourth quarter, but Turner's 3-pointer cut the lead to 101-99 with 1:30 remaining. The Wizards answered by scoring the final eight points. Sarr’s floater gave Washington a four-point lead, and free throws from Carrington, Middleton, and Bilal Coulibaly sealed the victory.

Earlier, Sarr’s block in the third quarter set up Coulibaly for a breakaway dunk that extended the Wizards’ lead to 70-55 with 6:12 left. Milwaukee responded with five straight points, but Washington countered with a run of their own, as Sarr and Carrington each hit a 3-pointer to push the lead to 76-60 with 3:36 remaining in the quarter.

The Wizards also built separation with two big runs in the second quarter. They went on an 11-0 run late in the first half, capped by a Champagnie layup in transition, giving Washington a 33-23 lead with 10:30 remaining. Later, George drained a 30-foot 3-pointer to finish a 14-2 run that extended the lead to 52-35 with just over three minutes left in the half. Washington outscored the Bucks 32-20 in the second quarter to take a 57-43 halftime advantage.

-Field Level Media/Reuters