CHICAGO — Jordan Poole scored 23 points and the Washington Wizards won their season-high third straight game, beating the Chicago Bulls 107-105 on Monday night.
Corey Kispert recorded his first career double-double with 19 points and a career-high 12 rebounds. Marvin Bagley III scored 16 and Richaun Holmes had 14 points and 15 rebounds. Jared Butler added a career-high 13 assists to help the Wizards — owners of the NBA’s second-worst record — gain some revenge for a 29-point blowout in Chicago last week.
Washington hadn’t won more than two games in a row since a six-game streak in January 2023.
“Wow,” Kispert said. “This is something we want to make much more common in the near future. Even though it feels good now, we’re kind of ready to do a fourth.
DeMar DeRozan led Chicago with 27 points. Coby White scored 22 points as the Bulls lost their third straight game – as bad a loss as any for them this season.
“We shouldn’t give up games like this right now,” DeRozan said. “We are resilient, but we can’t live on the edge every game. We can lose to any team on any night. This is the NBA. We have to be aware of that. We have to put that aside these last 10 games. We can’t have any more excuses.”
Ninth in the Eastern Conference, Chicago found itself facing a 15-0 deficit. Poole scored 10 during that stretch, although he also headed to the sideline with three fouls just under five minutes into the game.
The Wizards led by 16 early in the second quarter before Chicago took the lead in the third. Washington led 100-93 late in the game, but the Bulls then scored six straight points and got within one on White’s layup with 2:10 left.
The Wizards led by four when DeRozan made a layup in the final minute. Washington’s Justin Champagnie then made one of two free throws with 31 seconds left to make it 104-101.
DeRozan made another layup to make it a one-point game before Kispert hit two free throws for Washington to extend the lead to 106-103 with eight seconds remaining.
The Bulls called a timeout and Butler fouled on the inbounds play. White made two free throws to cut the score to 106-105 with six seconds remaining.
Champagnie then made one of two free throws to make it 107-105 with 5.1 seconds remaining. DeRozan missed a shot at the buzzer.
Washington was without its top scorer Kyle Kuzma (left shoulder soreness) for the third time in five games. Wizards guard Tyus Jones (back sprain) missed his sixth straight game, while guard Landry Shamet (strained left calf) missed his eighth straight game. Interim coach Brian Keefe said Jones appears to be further along than Shamet, although he didn’t have a timetable for either player.
Bulls guard Lonzo Ball continues activities such as sprinting as he returns from a series of surgeries on his left knee. Chicago coach Billy Donovan said the next big step in Ball’s recovery would likely come this summer.
“Hopefully he’ll have August and September, which is two months before training camp starts,” Donovan said. “That doesn’t mean he’s that far away. He could potentially start playing in July. I just don’t know when they’re going to allow him to do that.
Ball has not played since January 14, 2022. He has undergone three surgeries since then, including a cartilage transplant in March 2023.
FOLLOWING
Wizards: Host the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday.
Bulls: Host the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday. ——
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