Gortat’s double-double leads Wizards past 76ers 106-93

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Marcin Gortat scored 23 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, Bradley Beal added 20 points, and the Washington Wizards defeated the Philadelphia 76ers 106-93 on Wednesday night.

John Wall chipped in 13 points and 15 assists for Washington, which had lost five of six.

The Wizards (42-33), who clinched a playoff spot Monday, began play three games behind the Raptors for fourth place in the Eastern Conference.

Ish Smith tied his season high with 23 points and Isaiah Canaan added 18 for the 76ers (18-58), who have lost four straight overall and 18 of 19 on the road.

Washington dominated in their first of back-to-back games against the 76ers and Knicks - the bottom two teams in the conference - jumping out to a 13-4 lead and building from there.

Otto Porter started in place of Paul Pierce (rest) for Washington and finished with 15 points.

Nerlens Noel had 14 points and 10 rebounds for the 76ers.

Smith scored eight early points and his scoop shot pulled the 76ers to within five at 15-10 midway through the quarter. Washington scored six straight, however and led 31-21 after one as Gortat scored 13 points in the quarter.

Beal capped a 10-0 Wizards run to open the second quarter when he blocked Luc Mbah a Moute's shot, came down with the ball and drove the length of the floor for a dunk.

Beal's jumper made 61-38 late in the second.

Washington shot 69 percent (29 of 42) in the half and collected 24 assists.

The Wizards cooled off in the second half, but still increased their lead to 34 points, 93-59, on Kevin Seraphin's step-back jumper late in the third.

Hollis Thompson (16 points) hit three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter, the last pulling Philadelphia to within 100-85 with 5:43 left, but the 76ers got no closer until the final minute.

TIP INS

76ers: Trail season series 2-1, with finale set for April 8 at Philadelphia. ... G Jason Richardson (left knee injury) returned after missing two games. ... The team toured the White House on their off day Tuesday.

Wizards: It was Wall's 38th double-double. ... Gortat hit his first eight shots on the way to his 20th double-double of the season. ... Pierce is averaging 4.6 points per game over his last five. ... F Kris Humphries returned after missing 16 games due to a groin injury. ... G Garrett Temple (right hamstring strain) missed his 11th game.

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