Kispert's 3s help Wizards pull away from Spurs 136-124

WASHINGTON (AP) — Corey Kispert scored 26 points and sank six 3-pointers, Deni Avdija added 21 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, and the Washington Wizards pulled away for a 136-124 win over the San Antonio Spurs in a meeting of depleted teams Friday night.

Delon Wright added 24 points and Kristaps Porzingis 23 for the Wizards, who missed three-time All-Star Bradley Beal (left knee sprain) for a second game.

The 12th-place Wizards snapped a four-game losing skid on a night they began 2 1/2 games back of the Chicago Bulls for the final Eastern Conference play-in game spot.

Washington sank 15 of 30 attempts beyond the arc one game after setting season lows for number and percentage of 3s made in Wednesday’s loss to West-leading Denver.

Keldon Johnson scored 30 points for San Antonio, which played without 2022 ninth-overall draft pick Jeremy Sochan (sore right knee) for the third time in four games.

Keita Bates-Diop added 20 points and Doug McDermott had 18 for the Spurs, who have lost all three games entering the finale of a four-game road trip.

After trailing by as many as 13, San Antonio surged ahead to their first second-half lead during a 14-2, third-quarter run. Johnson's driving layup while fouled put the Spurs in front, and he rebounded his own missed free throw to find Devonte' Graham for a kick-out 3 to make it 84-80.

From there, the lead changed five times before Washington took it back for good via a 12-4 spurt. Wright fueled that stretch when he hit a runner at the third-quarter buzzer to put the Wizards up 99-98 and followed with a 3 to open the fourth.

TIP-INS

Spurs: Went on a team visit Thursday to the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. ... Coach Gregg Popovich said Sochan is still likely to play down the stretch “off and on, when he's feeling good,” despite his recent absences. ... Tre Jones had 10 points and 12 assists.

Wizards: Coach Wes Unseld Jr. suggested pregame it's unlikely Beal would be playing through his knee injury if Washington was more competitive in the playoff race. “I can't say that for a fact,” Unseld said. “I think it's something that would keep him out, hopefully just for a game or two.” ... Starting F Kyle Kuzma (right ankle sprain) missed his third straight game.

UP NEXT

Spurs: Close their road trip Sunday at Boston.

Wizards: Visit Toronto on Sunday.

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