Rui Hachimura scored an NBA career-high 19 points to help lead the Washington Wizards to their first win of the season against the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday.
Two-days after registering a double-double in an impressive regular-season debut, the 21-year-old rookie from Japan shot 8-for-20 from the floor as the Wizards prevailed 97-85 at Oklahoma City's Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Hachimura also grabbed five boards, dished a pair of assists and was a perfect 3-from-3 from the free-throw line in 35 minutes after starting at power forward.
Related coverage:
Basketball: Wizards' Rui Hachimura shines in NBA debut
Basketball: Hachimura can deliver for Washington and Japan, says NBA's Silver
Basketball: Rui Hachimura feeling right at home as Wizards open camp
In a composed performance, the No. 9 draft pick made key contributions in the fourth quarter to help the Wizards pull away for the win.
Hachimura drilled a pullup jump shot from 12 feet to put the Wizards up 85-83 with four minutes and nine seconds left on the clock, then stole the ball on a bad pass from Thunder point guard Chris Paul a minute later.
With 2:10 remaining, Hachimura hit a pair of free throws to help put the game out of the Thunder's reach at 94-83.
Center Thomas Bryant led the Wizards with 21 points and 11 boards, while All-Star shooting guard Bradley Beal scored 17. Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander was the game's top scorer with 28.
