Wizards 106, Pistons 82
WASHINGTON -- Wizards point guard John Wall had 20 points and 11 assists and center Marcin Gortat scored 16 points as Washington turned a dominant first half into a 106-82 victory over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.
Guard Bradley Beal started and scored 15 points for the Wizards (13-14) one night after having to be carried off the court with a knee injury in a 120-98 loss at the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Coming off its worst loss of the season, Washington produced its largest margin of victory. The Wizards never trailed and closed the first half on a 20-4 run for a 62-41 halftime lead.
Wall scored 18 points in the first half as Washington shot more than 50 percent.
Forward Greg Monroe scored 14 points and guard Brandon Jennings had 13 for the Pistons (14-18), who matched their season high with 23 turnovers and shot 40.3 percent.
The Pistons have lost four of five games. The two sides wrap up the home-and-away scenario Monday night in Detroit.
Swingman Trevor Ariza had 15 points and forward Trevor Booker 10 as all five of Washington's starters scored in double figures. Ariza made 4 of 6 3-pointers as the Wizards finished 9 of 19 from beyond the arc.
Beal, who suffered a bruised knee Friday night, missed his first three shot attempts. But he made four straight, including two 3-pointers, during a second-quarter run that Wall capped with a reverse dunk.
Detroit went without a point for the final 4:53 of the second quarter before the crowd of 19,336.
The Pistons' sizable frontcourt had proved challenging for the Wizards in previous matchups. In a season-opening 113-102 win at home, Detroit outrebounded Washington and scored 56 points in the paint.
In the rematch, Washington won the battle of the boards 46-38 and equalized Detroit's interior production.
Wall established a career high by scoring at least 20 points in six straight games.
Josh Harrellson and Will Bynum each scored 10 points off the bench for Detroit.
Wizards forward Jan Vesely's dunk gave Washington its largest lead at 90-62 early in the fourth quarter. He fouled out after just nine minutes of action.
NOTES: Wizards PF Nene came off the bench for the fourth straight game since returning from a foot injury. ... Pistons G Brandon Jennings missed eight of 10 shots in the first half. ... At 8-7, Detroit entered as one of eight NBA teams with winning road records. ... Former Georgetown stars Otto Porter and Greg Monroe played in the same game for the first time as professionals. The Wizards' rookie missed the season opener against Monroe's Pistons with a hip injury. ... The Wizards honored the late Nelson Mandela during a pregame ceremony. Team owner Ted Leonsis, Wall and Monroe presented gifts to Swati and Zaziwe Mandela, the granddaughters of the former South African president. Washington, D.C., mayor Vincent Gray also attended.
