In order to advance to the NBA play-in tournament, the Washington Wizards do not want to rely on assistance from other teams. They have been in a precarious position for the past ten days.
They have only won one of their last six games, but they will play the Detroit Pistons, the team they beat, on Tuesday night in Washington.
Washington is one half-game behind the Chicago Bulls for 10th place and the final Eastern Conference play-in spot after Sunday’s 112-93 loss to the host Philadelphia 76ers.
On Sunday, the Wizards had access to all of their primary offensive players, but the Sixers controlled the game except for a 31-point second quarter. Washington missed 23.1% of its 3-point attempts and shot 40.5 percent overall.
Bradley Beal, Kristaps Porzingis, and Kyle Kuzma combined to score 34 points, 33 points less than their typical total.
With 25 points, Kispert tied his career high, but his individual performance offered little consolation.
Due to soreness in his right knee, Kuzma is listed as questionable to play Tuesday. Detroit has been defeated seven times in a row by Washington.
The Pistons will play the second of two consecutive games. They defeated the visiting Indiana Pacers 117-97 on Monday to end an 11-game losing streak.
Despite a haphazard rotation, Detroit held a 31-point lead. Eugene Omoruyi started at small forward and scored 17 points, signing his second 10-day contract earlier in the day.
In his first start, Rodney McGruder, who has been on the bench most of the season, scored 18 points.
Cory Joseph, a journeyman point guard, scored a season-high 22 points in Detroit’s first victory since beating the San Antonio Spurs in double overtime on Feb. 10.
Indiana, which was likewise playing without a few starters on Monday, crushed the Cylinders 121-115 on Saturday.
