Wizards 124, Pistons 81
WASHINGTON -- Nene scored a season-high 20 points, John Wall had 15 points and 12 assists, and the Washington Wizards snapped a five-game losing streak with a 124-81 win over the Detroit Pistons on Monday night.
The Wizards (31-35) led by as many as 44 points in their return home following a disappointing 0-3 road trip. They responded with a dominant first quarter, outscoring the Pistons 34-15. The rampage continued throughout.
The victory pulled Washington within 2 1/2 games of Detroit -- two back in the loss column -- for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.
Every active player scored for the Wizards, with all five starters reaching double figures, including Marcin Gortat with 16 points. Markieff Morris scored 14, and Bradley Beal had 12 points in 25 minutes after missing the previous three games with a sprained pelvis.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope scored 18 points for Detroit (34-33). Darrun Hillard, the only other Piston to score in double figures, added 10 as Detroit misfired from all angles. The Pistons shot 40.5 percent from field, 3-for-23 on 3-pointers and 14-for-22 from the free throw line.
Detroit also committed 21 turnovers, which Washington turned into 28 points. The attacking Wizards scored 62 points in the paint and sank 56.7 percent of their shots from the floor.
The Pistons finished 2-2 on their four-game road trip and fell to 0-3 in the season series against Washington.
After losing in overtime at the Portland Trail Blazers on March 8, Washington was drubbed 114-93 in a lethargic performance Friday at the Utah Jazz. The following night, the Wizards were outscored 41-17 in the fourth quarter of a 116-100 loss at the Denver Nuggets.
Washington did the outscoring Monday. Playing with force against the Pistons from the start, the Wizards never trailed and led 30-7 with 2:51 left in the first quarter.
Wall had 15 points in the first half as Washington entered halftime up 60-39. The Wizards increased the margin after each quarter.
NOTES Detroit coach Stan Van Gundy called two timeouts within a minute during Washington's first-quarter surge. ... Wizards G Alan Anderson was active after sitting out Saturday's loss at Denver, the second game of a back-to-back. ... The Pistons open a franchise-high nine-game homestand Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks. The stretch runs through March 29 and includes two games against Atlanta. ... Detroit fell at Washington for the fourth consecutive visit. ... Washington hosts the Chicago Bulls Wednesday. Bulls F Pau Gasol (knee swelling) is not expected to play in the third and final game of the season series. The teams split two games in Chicago.