Wizards Hand Pistons Largest Loss Of Season, 124-81
IAN QUILLEN
Associated Press
WASHINGTON (AP) — John Wall had 15 points and 12 assists, and the Washington Wizards routed the Detroit Pistons 124-81 Monday night to snap a five-game skid and gain ground in the playoff race.
Nene scored a season-high 20 points off the bench to lead seven Wizards players in double figures during Washington's biggest win and Detroit's worst loss of the season.
Bradley Beal added 12 points in his return after missing three games with a sprained pelvis, helping the 10th-place Wizards close within 2 1/2 games of a playoff spot.
Chicago (33-32) leads Detroit (34-33) by a percentage point for the eighth and final Eastern Conference berth.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 18 points for the Pistons, who fell to 0-3 against the Wizards and have allowed 110 or more points in three straight games.
Darrun Hilliard added 10 points off the bench for Detroit, which shot 13 percent (3 of 23) from beyond the arc while allowing Washington to shoot 56.7 percent (51 of 90) from the floor.
Washington's 60-39 lead marked the Pistons' worst halftime deficit of the season and the first time the Wizards held an opponent to fewer than 40 points before the break.
Washington opened the game on a 30-7 run as the Pistons hit just one field goal over a 7:55 stretch.
Wall's early steal and dunk made it 11-4, prompting Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy to take his first timeout with 8:33 left in the first quarter.
Only 54 seconds later, Van Gundy burned his second timeout after Wall had another swipe and slam that stretched the lead to nine.
Detroit made just two of its first 15 shots, missed its first seven 3-pointers and committed six of its 21 turnovers during the first period, including three on unforced traveling violations.
FREEZE FRAME
The Verizon Center scoreboard froze during the fourth quarter with 2:22 remaining and the score reading 119-77. The public-address announcer called out the score during the final stretch.
TIP-INS
Pistons: Steve Blake's 3-pointer from the left wing was the Pistons' first of the game and it closed the score to 39-18 early in the second quarter. . The Pistons begin a franchise-record nine-game homestand Wednesday.
Wizards: G-F Alan Anderson (ankle surgery) played after sitting out Saturday. He continues to not play both games of back-to-backs. . F Kelly Oubre received a noticeable applause from the home crowd when he entered during the fourth quarter, with one fan holding a sign reading "#freeOubre."
UP NEXT
Pistons: Home against Atlanta on Wednesday.
Wizards: Home against Chicago on Wednesday.
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