Kyle Kuzma is fast becoming the most hated guy in the City of Brotherly Love. Kuzma provided critical plays on Wednesday night as the Washington Wizards staved off the Philadelphia 76ers, 106-103.

Kuzma made the game-saving block against Joel Embiid to cap off an impressive all-around showing. The Wizards forward finished with a team-high 24 points, including 4-of-6 shooting from beyond the arc, seven rebounds, three assists, and three steals.

One of his buckets came during a critical point in the fourth quarter. Kuzma drained a pretty fall-away jumper from the baseline over the outstretched arms of Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey. After the game, Kuzma made sure to tip his hat to Los Angeles Lakers great Kobe Bryant.

It's no secret that Kuzma has been inspired by Kobe, and making a tough shot at a crucial juncture of a game is truly Mamba Mentality. The Wizards improved to 24-27 and snapped a six-game losing streak.

The 26-year-old Kuzma once again balled out against the Sixers. Last month, he posterized Embiid with a nasty slam. Now, he buried them again with big plays. Quite incidentally, the Sixers were Kobe's hometown team.

After spiraling in his last few years with the Lakers, Kuzma has truly rejuvenated his promising career. Before the season started, he said he's ready to play at an All-Star level for the Wizards, and so far, he's walked the talk. As Sixers fans could attest.