Detroit, which has clinched the Eastern Conference's second seed, had played poorly in back-to-back losses to New York and Philadelphia, but appeared to regain its focus against Washington.
The loss cost the Wizards a chance to better their playoff position, as both Cleveland and Philadelphia also lost. The Wizards are two games behind Cleveland for the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, and one game ahead of Philadelphia in the race for the fifth seed.
Richard Hamilton was the only Piston starter to play more than 24 minutes, but the Detroit reserves were more than a match for the lethargic Wizards, scoring 52 points.
Antwan Jamison led Washington with 15 and DeShawn Stevenson added 11.
Once again, the Pistons didn't give their starters a lot of work in the first half, but still did enough to take a 47-42 lead at the the break. Detroit's regulars were back at the start of the third quarter, and they began the period with a 12-2 run to move the margin to 15.
By quarter's end, the lead was 81-55, and Detroit's slump was no longer a concern. Amir Johnson capped the blowout with a pair of spectacular dunks in the final minute.
Notes:@ Hamilton, who had missed eight of Detroit's previous nine games to rest a sore hip, had nine points and matched a season high with 10 assists. ... Alexis Hornbuckle and Tasha Humphrey, the Detroit Shock's two first-round picks in Wednesday's WNBA draft, attended the game. ... John Hammond, Pistons president Joe Dumars' long-time top assistant, accepted the Milwaukee Bucks' GM job. ... Gilbert Arenas scored 10 points in his fourth game after missing most of the season after knee surgery.
