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Wizards use big second half run to top Pistons

Feb 13, 2012 - 4:04 AM Auburn Hills, MI (Sports Network) - John Wall matched a career-high with 15 assists and scored all nine of his points during a game-changing run in the second half as the Wizards earned their second road win of the season with a 98-77 thumping of the Pistons.

JaVale McGee recorded a double-double with 22 points and 11 rebounds and Nick Young added 22 points for Washington, which moved to 2-10 away from home this season. The Wizards had lost six of their last seven games coming in.

"These games when we're close to these teams and have the same kind of record, these are like championship games," Wall said of the 8-21 Pistons. The Wizards are 6-22. "You have to take advantage of them."

Greg Monroe had 27 points and six rebounds to lead the Pistons, who had their four-game winning streak snapped.

"From the beginning of the game, we didn't have that same sort of effort and intensity that we had in some of these prior games," Detroit head coach Lawrence Frank said.

After Monroe's three-point play gave the Pistons a 61-59 advantage with 3:56 to play in the third, the Wizards used a 28-4 run that bridged the third and fourth quarters to break the game open.

Wall began the surge with a three-point play -- his first basket of the game -- and netted six more points in the quarter as the Wizards took a 74-63 lead into the fourth.

Rashard Lewis capped the run with a trey as the Wizards took a commanding 87-65 lead with 7:04 to play in the fourth. Wall also dished out four assists during the stretch.

Washington led by as many as 27 in the final stanza, cruising to the easy win.

The Wizards, who came in leading the NBA with 18.7 fastbreak points per game, used their stellar transition game in the opening stanza. Wall dished out four assists and Washington recorded eight fastbreak points as the visitors took a 26-18 lead after one.

Detroit hit the glass in the second period, pulling down nine offensive rebounds -- three by Ben Wallace and two by Monroe -- as the game was tied at 45 heading into the break. Monroe had 14 points to pace the Pistons in the first half.

Game Notes

Washington last won at the Palace on January 26, 2007...The Pistons fell to 6-9 at home this season...The Wizards finished with 22 fastbreak points...McGee finished the contest with eight dunks...The Pistons had 15 offensive rebounds, but the Wizards outrebounded them 47-42...Detroit was 1- of-11 from beyond the arc.