Wizards end 22-game skid in San Antonio, beat Spurs 127-106

SAN ANTONIO(AP) — Deni Avdija had a career-high 25 points, Bradley Beal had 21points and the Washington Wizards ended a 22-game losing streak tothe Spurs in San Antonio with a 127-106 victory Monday night.

Washington,which last won in San Antonio on Dec. 11, 1999, has won sixstraight for its longest winning streak since a six-game run in2015.

“You neverwant to be on the losing end of that streak, but it’s good to getthat one off our chest,” said Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr., who wasan advance scout with the team in 1999.

KristapsPorzingis added 17 points and nine rebounds after a fast start forWashington.

KeldonJohnson had 26 points, Jeremy Sochan added 17 and Zach Collins had16 for the Spurs, who have lost six straight to fall to 2-13 thismonth.

The Wizardsled 63-55 at halftime and never trailed in the second half. TheSpurs closed within four points midway through the third quarter,but Washington responded with an 8-0 run to regain a double-digitadvantage.

San Antoniois 0-35 this season when trailing by double digits.

“We had morefast-break points,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “We had moresecond-chance points. We had fewer turnovers. We had more points inthe paint but shot 20-something from 3 and they shot 50 orsomething. Game over.”

San Antoniowas 7 for 29 on 3-pointers while Washington shot 16 for 30 on3s.

Porzingisscored 13 of the Wizards’ first 19 points. Jakob Poeltl picked uptwo fouls in the opening four minutes, forcing the Spurs to bringZach Collins in sooner than usual.

After hisearly scoring burst, Porzingis was scoreless in the next twoperiods and had four points in the fourth.

Avdijaresponded by scoring 23 points in the final three quarters to helpthe Wizards win here for the first time since he was 2 yearsold.

“The streakis done,” Avdija said. “Just to close that circle and be here andhaving a good game versus the Spurs and end that streak. I thinkeverybody did a really great job competing. When we’re focused andsharing the ball, we’re a really dangerous team.”

Avdija was 10for 12 from the field and made both his 3-point attempts. KendrickNunn added 10 points, giving him double-digit scoring in all threegames since being acquired from the Los Angeles Lakers for RuiHachimura.

TIP-INS

Wizards:Washington’s longest winning streak in franchise history is ninestraight, which it accomplished in 2002, 1979, 1975, 1970 and 1969.... Washington is 12-16 on the road, two victories shy of matchinglast season’s win total away from home. ... Kuzma and Delon Wrightwere reunited with Poeltl, their teammate with the Utah Utes in2015. ... Nunn received a technical foul 7 seconds into the secondquarter after complaining about a non-call. After strippingpossession from Blake Wesley, Nunn thought he was fouled on a layupattempt that was knocked out of bounds by the Spurs’ rookie. SanAntonio F Doug McDermott missed the free throw.

Spurs: SanAntonio has allowed 100-plus points in six straight games and inall but one of its past 27 games. .. Sochan has scored in doublefigures in seven straight games and in 10 of his past 12. ... GJosh Richardson did not play after being upgraded to probableseveral hours before tipoff. Richardson missed his third straightgame with a sore left knee. ... Collins suffered a bloody nose thatforced officials to stop play with 2.8 seconds left in the firstquarter. Keldon Johnson re-entered the game in place ofCollins.

TURBO

Avdija’srecent rise has coincided with the team bestowing the nickname“Turbo” on the 22-year-old forward.

Wizardsveteran Monte Morris unknowingly gave Avdija the nickname while thetwo were playing 1-on-1. Morris playfully remarked that Avdija’shustle reminded him of the “turbo and square” move in NBA2K.

“They reallywant me to succeed and be aggressive,” Avdija said. “Since theygave me that nickname, I really just am being more aggressive. I’mjust enjoying, that’s the most important for me.”