Phoenix Suns 119, Washington Wizards 109
Q. Kyle, what do you think of the team's energy tonight, the fight, especially compared to the last game?
KYLE KUZMA: Much better. I think we fought all game long. Only thing that really bothered us during the game was just the rebounding. Nick Richards on the boards a lot. The first half, you know, they got a lot of extra possessions, offensive rebounds, and partly because of why they came out to like a blistering lead on us.
We cleaned it up a little bit in the second half and got back into the game. But first half extra possessions kind of hurt us; left KD open for a bunch of different threes etch they made shots obviously.
Q. How is your body feeling at this point of the season with all the up and downs? Seemed like you were able to get to the rim pretty effectively today.
KYLE KUZMA: Very good. Felt the healthiest I've felt all year. Thankfully I'm just sticking with my routine and trying to stay that way. It's been a rocky season for me from a health standpoint.
Q. Do you feel like your rhythm is where you want it to be?
KYLE KUZMA: It's getting there. I think today I just decided to be myself and the not really just try to fit into what everybody -- everything that we're doing here, and just really just played in the moment.
Yeah.
I think my mom helped me out with that a little bit; saw her today.
Q. What do you mean when you say you played more in the moment not trying to fit into everybody else?
KYLE KUZMA: Just not trying to fit into what we're trying to do here. You know, just being more assertive, demanding the ball. You know, not just going out there and trying to let people develop. Just playing my game, yeah.
Q. Do you feel like this is the most you felt like yourself this season? You mentioned your health has been up and down. BK said that besides a game a week ago this is the most you looked like yourself with the way you attacked.
KYLE KUZMA: Yeah, 100%. Yeah, for sure, yeah.
Q. I know you mentioned seeing your mom. Was it just seeing her that kind of put you in the right mindset tonight? Conversation?
KYLE KUZMA: Yeah, just seeing her. She flew out here and we did some grounding earlier actually. Probably put me in a good mood.
Shoutout Karri.
Q. How much were you waiting for a performance like this? Not waiting, but wanting to have a performance like this?
KYLE KUZMA: I was waiting. I was waiting for sure. Just got to continue. It's only one game. Just doing it over and over, being myself.
You know, just going with the flow.
Q. Do you feel like you have been holding back a lot of the season?
KYLE KUZMA: I'm not going to say hold back. I'm not going to act like it's just whatever, you know, but I think I've tried to fit in. I think I've tried to help the young guys build confidence and do their thing.
I think today I was just really in the most assertive I've been all year.
Q. Do you feel like, for you, being aggressive and trying to help the young guys are kind of at odds at times?
KYLE KUZMA: Sometimes. Sometimes. Only because there are certain positions on the floor where we run plays, where past years I might have been in those. Just deferring a little bit within the play calls to find rhythm. I think when I came out the game, right away, couple transition layups, pick and rolls, you know, just got to like a comfortable rhythm, so...
Q. Which end of the spectrum do you want to find yourself as the season goes on, the aggressive side, helping develop, finding the balance?
KYLE KUZMA: Aggressive. Yeah, aggressive now. Yeah.
FastScripts Transcript by ASAP Sports