Wizards end losing streak with 99-95 win over Pistons

WASHINGTON -- John Wall scored 22 points, Nene added 21 and the Washington Wizards ended their six-game losing streak with a 99-95 win over the Detroit Pistons on Saturday night.

The Wizards, who had lost 11 of 13, won despite blowing a 21-point second-half lead. Marcin Gortatscored 16 points and grabbed 17 rebounds for Washington.

With the Wizards up by one, Bradley Beal made his first free throw with 10 seconds left, making it 97-95. He missed the second, but the rebound was batted out to Wall, who was fouled and made both shots with 7.3 seconds left.

Greg Monroe had 21 points and 10 rebounds, andSpencer Dinwiddie added 20 off the bench for Detroit, which has lost three straight.

The Wizards led by 16 at intermission, and Paul Pierce's 3-pointer capped a 7-0 run that put them up 69-48 with 8:58 left in the third quarter.

Detroit chipped away, however and trailed 80-70 to start the fourth. A 9-0 run got the Pistons within one, and when Dinwiddie rebounded his own miss and dunked, the Pistons led 85-84 with 6:46 left.

The Wizards regained the lead for good, 90-89, on two free throws by Gortat.

Paul Pierce (14 points) was back for Washington after missing two games with a bruised right knee, and Beal (right leg stress reaction) returned after missing eight games.

Both teams were coming off losses Friday night, but the Pistons played two overtime periods against the Knicks before traveling to Washington.

The Wizards hit their first five shots, including a pair of 3-pointers by Pierce, and quickly led 12-4.

They shot 66.7 percent (16 for 24) in the first quarter and led by as many as 14.

Anthony Tolliver's 3-pointer pulled Detroit to within 45-38 midway through the second, but Drew Gooden's long-range jumper shortly thereafter started a quick 7-0 run and the Wizards led 60-44 at halftime.

TIP INS

Pistons: Lost the season series 2-1. ... Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, who averaged 23 points in the first two meetings with Washington, was held to five points. ... Detroit fell to 5-10 in the second game of back-to-backs.

Wizards: Beal finished with eight points in 33 minutes. ... Kris Humphries (strained groin) missed his second straight game. ... Washington set a season high for first-quarter points with 37. ... Gortat has 10 or more rebounds in each of his last five games. ... The Wizards are 9-6 in the second game of back-to-backs.

UP NEXT

Pistons: at New Orleans on Wednesday night.

Wizards: at Chicago on Tuesday night.