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Wizards 104, Jazz 91
Jeff Hawkins is an award-winning sportswriter with more than four decades in the industry (print and digital media). A freelance writer/stay-at-home dad since 2008, Hawkins started his career with newspaper stints in Michigan, North Carolina, Florida, Upstate New York and Illinois, where he earned the 2004 APSE first-place award for column writing (under 40,000 circulation). As a beat writer, he covered NASCAR Winston Cup events at NHIS (1999-2003), the NHL's Chicago Blackhawks (2003-06) and the NFL's Carolina Panthers (2011-12). Hawkins penned four youth sports books, including a Michael Jordan biography. Hawkins' main hobbies include mountain bike riding, 5k trail runs at the Whitewater Center in Charlotte, N.C., and live music.
All posts by Jeff HawkinsUpdated15 Oct 2021
WASHINGTON — Forward Trevor Ariza scored 26 points and guard Bradley Beal had 22 as the Washington Wizards won for the seventh time in eight games with a 104-91 victory over the Utah Jazz on Wednesday night.
Guard John Wall had 14 points, 10 assists and two blocks as the Wizards (32-29) snapped a four-game losing streak to the Jazz. Washington shot 54.3 percent from the field, scored 56 points in the paint and never trailed during the final three quarters. Center Marcin Gortat added 16 points and nine rebounds
Washington rebounded after having its season-high six game winning streak snapped on Monday with a 110-104 home loss to the Memphis Grizzlies. The Wizards also exacted revenge after falling 104-101 at Utah on Jan. 25.
Alec Burks had 19 points and fellow guard Trey Burke scored 14 for the Jazz (21-40), who fell to 7-24 on the road this season. Utah has lost four straight overall and 11 of its last 16 games. Guard Gordon Hayward added 12 points for the Jazz.
Utah made 13 of 22 free throws while Washington hit all 10 of its attempts.
The Wizards led by 15 points in the first half and 79-64 late in the third quarter before the crowd of 13,911. An energy lull followed, as did a 16-6 Utah run. Guard Diante Garrett’s jumper made the score 85-80 with 7:48 remaining, but the Jazz would get no closer.
Forward Drew Gooden, signed to a 10-day contract last week, had a layup and two assists on Washington’s next three possessions, pushing the margin back to double figures. Gooden scored 12 points including eight in the second quarter, his first points since joining the Wizards on Feb. 26.
The setback dropped the Jazz into the Western Conference basement, tied with the idle Los Angeles Lakers. The Sacramento Kings would also fall to 21-40 with a loss Wednesday night at the Milwaukee Bucks.
Ariza sank 4 of 6 3-pointers. Over Washington’s last eight games, he has made 31 of 49 from beyond the arc while averaging 19.6 points.
The Wizards led 54-44 at halftime as Ariza scored 14 points. After the Jazz trimmed a 15-point deficit to six, Washington scored the final four points of the half. Wall capped the first half scoring with a reverse dunk after poking the ball away from Burke.
NOTES: Utah shot 5-for-15 from beyond the 3-point arc in the first half. Washington shot 55 percent overall from the field before halftime. … The Wizards played without F Martell Webster (back) and C Kevin Seraphin (knee). Seraphin missed his fifth consecutive game. … Three members of the 2013 college basketball All-America team suited up at the Verizon Center over a 24-hour period. Wednesday’s contest included Wizards rookie F Otto Porter and Jazz G Trey Burke. Creighton F Doug McDermott faced Georgetown on Tuesday. … Utah heads north to face the New York Knicks on Friday. Washington starts a two-game road swing on Saturday against the Milwaukee Bucks.
