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Wizards move Bobcats closer to infamy

Apr 24, 2012 - 3:55 AM Washington, DC (Sports Network) - John Wall had a double-double, Nene scored 18 points and the Wizards crushed the Bobcats, 101-73, on Monday.

Wall finished with 16 points and 14 assists and Jan Vesely scored 16 for Washington, which led by as many as 30 en route to its fourth straight win.

"Even though it's near the end of the season we are playing good as a team," said Wall.

Gerald Henderson scored 19 points in the setback and D.J. Augustin chipped in 15. Tyrus Thomas, who was involved in an altercation with head coach Paul Silas after Charlotte's loss to Boston on April 15, received a flagrant foul type 2 and was ejected late in the first quarter for throwing an elbow at James Singleton.

"You gotta be mentally tough," said Thomas of the tumultuous end to the season. "I'm pretty sure most of the guys in the locker room have had worse happen to them in their life and in a season and you have to remember that sometimes."

The Bobcats are in the midst of a franchise-record 21-game losing streak. If they drop their final two games of the season they will finish with the worst winning percentage in NBA history.

Charlotte was up 20-19 with 3:02 remaining in the first when Thomas entered the game. The Wizards promptly reeled off a 12-2 run to close the quarter, but not before Thomas' elbow grazed Singleton's face with 3.6 seconds left.

Thomas was ejected and Singleton opened the second quarter with a 21-foot jumper as Washington continued to pull away. Nene scored five straight near the midway point, converting a three-point play with a driving layup and a subsequent foul shot, then dunking in traffic for a 49-28 advantage.

"He's been the key," Wall said of Nene. "He's somebody who can score in the low post, pass the ball and he is constantly being a leader, helping me out with a lot of things and just telling guys where to be in certain situations."

It was 63-39 at the break and the Wizards cruised through the second half. They led by as many as 30 in the third quarter behind six points from Vesely and the margin never dipped below double-digits in the fourth.

Game Notes

The Wizards won all four meetings between the teams to sweep the season-series for the first time since 2009-2010...If the Bobcats lose their final two games they will finish with a win percentage of .106, which would be worse than the 1972-73 76ers' .110 win percentage. Philadelphia finished that season with a 9-73 record.