[Saba Sports News] Kyle Kuzma’s error marked a turning point for the Washington Wizards in their game against the Toronto Raptors. Holding a commanding 23-point lead at Scotiabank Arena, Kuzma was instrumental in building this advantage, scoring 34 points.
However, a pivotal moment in the fourth quarter saw the game’s momentum swing towards the Raptors.
With the Wizards leading 107-97 and just over five minutes remaining, a missed shot by Raptors’ Dennis Schroder led to a controversial out-of-bounds call. Kuzma, believing the referees made an incorrect call, rushed to the backcourt to urge coach Wes Unseld Jr. to challenge the decision.
This left the Wizards short-handed, allowing the Raptors’ Scottie Barnes to score easily.
Barnes’ layup initiated a decisive 14-0 run by the Raptors, while the Wizards failed to score in their subsequent attempts, committing four turnovers. The Raptors ultimately won 111-107.
A replay later confirmed Kuzma’s contention that the Raptors had last touched the ball, but this did not change the outcome or the impact of his decision to leave his team vulnerable.