This is why the Wizards paid Bradley Beal the big bucks. (Well, that and he’s by far their most marketable star.)
With the game on the line, the Bulls threw two defenders at Beal — including their best man defender in Alex Caruso — and Beal still hit a contested, leaning bank shot to give the Wizards a 102-100 win.
BEAL WINS IT FOR WASHINGTON!!!!!!!!
— NBC Sports Wizards (@NBCSWizards) October 22, 2022
HOME OPENER DUBBBBBBB pic.twitter.com/Fx7kZBU76L
DeMar DeRozan missed a 3-pointer for the Bulls to win it, and that’s the ballgame.
Beal finished with 19 points, but the big star for Washington was Kyle Kuzma, who dropped 26 on Chicago.
Kuz was KEY in the @WashWizards' win tonight that concluded with Brad Beal's game-winning bucket!@kylekuzma: 26 PTS, 6 REB, 4 3PM pic.twitter.com/CnszVF5s84
— NBA (@NBA) October 22, 2022
The Bulls, still playing without Zach LaVine, got 32 from DeMar DeRozan to lead them, plus Nikola Vucevic added 24 points and eight rebounds. LaVine is expected to return Saturday to the Chicago lineup.