On Monday, the Wizards picked up a big win over the T-Wolves, as Kristaps Porzingis scored a career-high 41 points. The 27-year-old scored 29 in the first half, hitting all six of his three-pointers before halftime. The Wizards led by 19 at the break and shot 57 percent from the floor in the game.
“I have to admit, I feel good,” Porzingis remarked about his career high. “I thought that I was not going to get it because we were going to blow them out by 30 and then not maybe play the fourth. I was thinking about that scenario.”

Washington had dropped three of its past four before beating Minnesota, putting it back over .500 this season. Kyle Kuzma scored 23 points, and Bradley Beal contributed 22 for the Wizards, who now have victories over several playoff contenders, including Utah, Memphis, Chicago, Miami, and Philadelphia. Beal, Kuzma, and Porzingis all average over 20 points per game. Forward Rui Hachimura, who is fourth on the team in scoring, will miss Wednesday’s game versus Brooklyn with a bone bruise in his right ankle.

This season, the Wizards are scoring 110.5 points per game on 47.4 percent shooting from the field, including 34.5 percent from long range. They are top-13 in field goal percentage and rebounds per game (43.9). Washington surrenders 111.4 points on defense on 45.2 percent shooting (4th-best in the NBA).

Brooklyn needs a winning streak to separate from the pack in the Eastern Conference, and following wins over Portland and Orlando could be on its way. The Nets are beginning to move past the off-court controversies that have marred their season, too. Consecutive victories over Washington and Toronto wouldn’t hurt, especially with defending Eastern Conference champion Boston next up.

In the win over the Magic, Kevin Durant scored a season-high 45 points, shooting a scintillating 19-for-24 from the field in the second night of back-to-back games. The former Texas Longhorns star added seven rebounds and five assists for the Nets, who played the second half without Ben Simmons, who was dealing with left knee soreness. Kyrie Irving added 20 points, and Nic Claxton had a double-double (17 points and 13 rebounds) for the home team.

Brooklyn is first in the NBA in field goal percentage (49.8%) and averages 111.5 points per game. It also boasts the eighth-highest three-point percentage in the league (37.2%). On defense, the Nets surrender 110.8 points per game on 44.4 percent shooting, the lowest opponent shooting percentage in pro basketball.