The Washington Wizards’ 125–121 win versus the Utah Jazz on Monday night started with an early Utah turnover, which led to a Russell Westbrook and-one and a three-point lead. Neither team had much trouble scoring early on, as the two squads totaled 27 points in the first five minutes of play. The frantic back-and-forth of the early stages of the match would set the stage for a high-scoring affair.
In his first game since March 29, Daniel Gafford (playing on limited minutes), acquired from Chicago at the trade deadline, provided an instant spark off the bench — the gritty center threw down two lobs and was a presence at the rim — he finished with 15 points and four rebounds off the bench.