Gortat scores 21 points as Wizards upset Hornets, 113-98

WCCB Team,

Charlotte Hornets center Al Jefferson, right, shoots over Washington Wizards center Marcin Gortat, from Poland, during the first half of an NBA basketball game Sunday, April 10, 2016, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

WASHINGTON (AP) — Marcin Gortat had 21 points and 13 rebounds as the Washington Wizards defeated the Charlotte Hornets 113-98 on Sunday, damaging the Hornets’ chances to secure home-court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Marcus Thornton added 16 points for the Wizards and Ramon Sessions had 15 points and 11 assists.

The Hornets (46-34) entered the game tied with the Miami Heat in the Eastern Conference, one-half game behind the fourth-place Celtics. They play at Boston on Monday night.

Frank Kaminsky had 18 points and 11 rebounds and Kemba Walker added 16 points for the Hornets, who shot just 34.6 percent (28 of 81) from the field and committed 15 turnovers.

Washington (39-41), which was eliminated from playoff contention with Friday’s loss to Detroit, was without John Wall (sore left knee) for the third straight game, and leading scorer Bradley Beal (sore pelvis) left after playing 7:43 in the first quarter.

Walker scored nine of his points in the third quarter as Charlotte rallied from an 8-point halftime deficit. The Hornets were ahead 71-69 when Otto Porter Jr. scored the first eight points — six on 3-pointers — in a 12-0 third-quarter Wizards’ run.

Al Jefferson’s layup capped an 8-0 spurt to pull the Hornets to within 88-84 midway through the fourth quarter. But Washington responded with a 14-2 run — including five points by Marcus Thornton and four by Gortat — to pull away.

Washington shot 52.5 percent (42 of 80) from the field, including 9 of 21 from 3-point range. Porter finished with 10 points.

The Wizards scored the first seven points of the second quarter and a 6-0 run late in the half gave them their biggest lead of the half, 53-39.

Washington shot 48.8 percent (21 for 43) before halftime, and the Hornets committed 10 turnovers.

TIP-INS

Hornets: Jeremy Lamb (strained toe) was available after missing Friday night’s game but did not play. . Entering Monday night’s game, the Hornets are 11-4 in the second game of back-to-backs.

Wizards: Split the season series with Charlotte 2-2. . Beal missed a total of four games last month with a sore pelvis. . Washington improved to 21-19 at home.

UP NEXT

Hornets: Charlotte visits Boston on Monday.

Wizards: Washington visits Brooklyn on Monday.

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