Wizards 95, Hornets 69
Marcin Gortat scored 20 points to lead the way as visiting Washington trounced Charlotte to snap a nine-game road losing streak.
John Wall collected 15 points and nine assists for the Wizards, who won for only the third time in their last 11 games. Bradley Beal scored 14 points and Kevin Seraphin added 12 off the bench for Washington, which won on the road for the first time since Jan. 27.
Mo Williams scored 19 points to lead the Hornets, who had a five-game winning streak halted. Al Jefferson scored 14 points and Lance Stephenson added 12 off the bench as Charlotte dropped into a tie with Indiana for the final two playoff spots in the Eastern Conference.
The Hornets trimmed a 19-point first-half deficit to eight on Jefferson's basket in the opening seconds of the third quarter but went more than 5 1/2 minutes between field goals as the Wizards stretched the margin back to 19. Charlotte never threatened to make a run in the fourth quarter, managing only three field goals in the period as Washington pulled away.
Wall scored seven straight points during a 12-0 run in the first quarter, and the Wizards reeled off six straight points to end the quarter with a 36-21 advantage. Charlotte scored eight straight points in the second quarter and closed the half with a 7-0 run to get within 56-46 at the break.
GAME NOTEBOOK: The Hornets shot 32.5 percent overall and were 4-for-22 from 3-point range. … Williams has scored in double figures in all 10 games since being acquired from Minnesota. … Washington SG Garrett Temple suffered a right hamstring strain in the fourth quarter and did not return.