The Pelicans had won a franchise-record 10 games in a row, but were playing without All-Star forward Anthony Davis because of a sprained ankle he suffered two nights earlier in a victory at Sacramento.
Markieff Morris added 17 points, Bradley Beal scored 16, Mike Scott had 14, Kelly Oubre Jr. had 11 and Jodie Meeks 10 for Washington, which played its 18th consecutive game without star guard John Wall, who is recovering from knee surgery.
Darius Miller came off the bench to lead led the Pelicans with 20 points, Cheick Diallo scored 14, Rajon Rondo had 11 and DeAndre Liggins scored 10. Nikola Mirotic started in Davis' place and finished with nine points, making 3-of-11 shots and missing all four 3-pointers, and 12 rebounds. Jrue Holiday, who entered the game averaging 19.4 points, finished with four on 2-of-8 shooting. The Pelicans bench outscored the starters, 59-38.
New Orleans entered the game averaging 112.5 points per game, third-highest in the NBA, but struggled to score without Davis.
The Wizards led by 15 at halftime and Porter made a 3-pointer to help them increase the lead to 18 early in the third quarter.
Beal made two 3-pointers and Porter Jr. made one as Washington expanded the margin to 80-53 before taking an 83-62 lead after three quarters.
Liggins gave New Orleans a brief lift in the fourth with eight points to cut the deficit to 18, but the Wizards rebuilt the lead to 25 midway through the quarter.
Both teams were 0 for 4 on 3-pointers in a low-scoring first quarter that ended with Washington holding a 22-19 lead behind Porter's eight points.
Miller scored four points as New Orleans edged in front, 27-26, before going cold.
Scott scored seven points and Porter scored six as the Wizards surged to a 47-31 lead.
Rondo gave the Pelicans a lift with six points but Washington maintained a 53-38 lead at halftime.
--Field Level Media
Washington | New Orleans | |
Otto Porter Jr. 19 | Scoring | Darius Miller 20 |
Tomas Satoransky 9 | Assists | DeAndre Liggins 5 |
Marcin Gortat 8 | Rebounds | Nikola Mirotic 12 |
Ramon Sessions 5 | Free Throws Made | Rajon Rondo 5 |
Kelly Oubre Jr. 4 | Steals | Ian Clark 1 |
Marcin Gortat 2 | Blocks | Cheick Diallo 3 |
Team | Points | FG% | 3PM-3PA | FTM-FTA | Assists | Rebounds | Blocks | Steals | Turnovers |
Washington | 116 | 47.9 | 9-26 | 15-20 | 34 | 49 | 4 | 10 | 12 |
New Orleans | 97 | 46.3 | 6-20 | 15-18 | 23 | 38 | 10 | 3 | 15 |