Recap: Wizards beat Pistons, 129-125

Best win of the season.

The Washington Wizards played arguably their most encouraging game of the year Thursday in a 129-125 win over the Detroit Pistons at Little Caesars Arena.

After getting blown out by 20 in their first face-off on Monday, the Wizards played the Pistons tough all game long. Washington used a 13-2 run midway through the second quarter to turn a five-point deficit into a 44-38 lead in the span of two minutes.

The Wizards held a 69-62 lead after a chippy first two quarters, which saw the teams combine for 44 free throws. Eight different players made at least two field goals in the first half for Washington, with Marcus Smart and Khris Middleton leading the way with 12 apiece.

Washington hung tough for most of the third quarter to try to preserve their lead going into the fourth quarter. A Corey Kispert layup made it 96-90 with late in the third. Detroit answered with an 11-0 run over the final 2:12 of the quarter to take a 101-96 edge.

Going into the fourth, the playoff-bound Pistons looked like a team ready to put away a Wizards squad at the bottom of the standings. But rookies Bub Carrington, Alex Sarr, and Kyshawn George all stepped up late.

Carrington hit a couple of big buckets early in the fourth, including a gorgeous midrange shot off the glass.

George shrugged off an off shooting night to hit two huge threes in the game’s final two minutes.

And Sarr closed things out on defense with a big-time block on Cade Cunningham at the rim, arguably the top highlight of the Frenchman’s career.

Sarr finished with 19 points on 7/12 shooting to go along with five rebounds and four blocks. Carrington had 16 off the bench, while George recorded three triples and three steals. Smart, who had 17 points and seven assists, also deserves a mention for his playmaking and defensive intensity down the stretch.

Numbers just don’t do justice how poised the team looked in this one. The Wizards took the Pistons’ best shot and came away victorious. Detroit came into this one with a 12-3 record over its last 15 games.

Washington’s road trip continues Saturday as the team takes on the Denver Nuggets in Colorado.