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Every week, across several sports, players around the DMV shine in individual performance. Every Monday, I’d like to take a minute to highlight some of those performances, including what I view as the best performance and name that athlete the “DMV Star of the Week.”
This week’s DMV Star of the Week is Washington Wizards forward Kyle Kuzma.
In Friday’s 112-108 loss to the New York Knicks, Kuzma scored a season-high 40 points on 14/27 shooting, adding 7 rebounds and 7 assists in 40 minutes of action.
The performance was just one point shy of his career high and only the second time that a Wizards player has scored 40+ this season (Kristaps Porzingis on 11/28 vs. Minnesota).
It was also Kuzma’s bobblehead night, where the first 10,000 fans into the arena received a bobblehead of Kuzma wearing an oversized pink sweater that he wore pregame earlier this season. Fittingly, it led to one of the best games of his career.
Photo: Courtesy of the Washington Wizards
“Over the past ten games or so, I’m slowing my game down a lot,” Kuzma said following the game. “I feel like my game is just slowing down and my pace is great. I’m just understanding myself more and knowing what I can get to.”
In what’s been largely a frustrating season for Washington, Kuzma has been one of the consistent bright spots offensively. He’s 26th in the NBA in points per game (22.2) and is the leading scorer for the Wizards in nearly half its games.
Long way to go this season, but Kyle Kuzma is well on his way to a career year for the Wizards.
The DMV saw seven teams in action this past week, including the Washington Capitals, Washington Wizards, and the Georgetown, George Washington, Maryland, American and Howard basketball teams.
Here are some honorable mention performances for DMV Star of the Week:
Georgetown sophomore guard Jordan Riley scored a career high 18 points in a 77-73 loss @ Villanova on Monday
George Washington’s Maximus Edwards scored 24 points in Saturday’s 81-74 loss to Saint Louis
Maryland forward Donta Scott recorded a double-double in Sunday’s 81-67 loss @ Iowa, scoring 15 points and hauling in 11 rebounds
Howard guard Marcus Dockery scored 24 points in Saturday’s huge 86-84 road win over Norfolk State
George Washington guard Brendan Adams scored 22 points in Monday’s 78-75 win over George Mason
Here’s what’s coming up this week in DMV Sports:
Washington Capitals: (24-16-6, 4th in Metropolitan Division)
1/17 vs. Minnesota
1/19 @ Arizona
1/21 @ Las Vegas
Washington Wizards: (18-26, 12th in Eastern Conference)
1/18 @ New York
1/21 vs. Orlando
Georgetown Basketball: (5-14 overall, 0-8 in Big East)
1/21 @ #8 Xavier
Maryland Basketball: (11-6 overall, 2-4 in Big 10)
1/19 vs. Michigan
1/22 @ #3 Purdue
Howard Basketball: (10-10 overall, 2-1 in MEAC)
1/21 vs. Morgan State
American University Basketball: (12-5 overall, 4-2 in Patriot League)
1/18 vs. Lafayette
1/21 @ Colgate
George Washington Basketball: (9-9 overall, 3-2 in Atlantic 10)
1/21 vs. Dayton