NBA: Wizards take command in second quarter, drub Magic
FILE–Kristaps Porzingis #6 of the Washington Wizards. Greg Fiume/Getty Images/AFP
Kristaps Porzingis scored 30 points, grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked four shots, Monte Morris went for 12 points and dished 10 assists, and the Washington Wizards led almost wire-to-wire in a 119-100 rout of the host Orlando Magic on Friday.
Washington went on a 16-2 run midway through the second quarter and never looked back, leading the remainder of the contest after trailing briefing in the first half. The Wizards ramped up their onslaught in the third quarter with 42 points, pushing their lead to as many as 30 points in the process.
Article continues after this advertisementWashington shot 42-of-75 (56 percent) from the floor, including 15-of-35 from 3-point range. Kyle Kuzma connected on 4-of-8 from beyond the arc, Corey Kispert and Porzingis each shot 3-of-6, Deni Avdija added 2-of-5 from deep en route to his 13 points off the bench.
Avdija also grabbed seven rebounds and dished six assists, while fellow reserve Rui Hachimura added 16 points and seven rebounds.
The bench tandem joined all five Washington starters scoring in double-figures. Kispert and Daniel Gafford each finished with 11 points, while Kuzma notched 23 points.
Article continues after this advertisementKuzma also dished six assists, contributing to Washington’s 33-of-42 field goals scored off assists. Orlando scored 24 of its 42 field goals off assists, with Franz Wagner’s eight setting the pace.
Wagner also led the Magic in scoring with 28 points, while Paolo Banchero added 21. While Orlando made as many total field goals as the Wizards, the Magic’s dismal 5-of-27 shooting from 3-point range and 11-of-16 from the free-throw line — compared to Washington’s 20-of-25 free-throw shooting — was the difference.
The win marked the Wizards’ fourth straight, matching their longest of the season, and they have won five of their last six. Friday was the third game over that stretch decided by a double-digit point margin.
Orlando dropped its third in a row.
