

Kevin Seraphin scored 16 points in a season-high 28 minutes off the bench. (John McDonnell/The Washington Post)

Wizards Coach Randy Wittman was searching for any kind of a spark Sunday. The Phoenix Suns were outhustling his Washington Wizards and overwhelming them physically. He found a spark from an unlikely source: Kevin Seraphin.

The backup center scored 10 of his 16 points in the second quarter while supplying exactly what Wittman needed: a physical and energetic interior presence. He was rewarded with a season-high 28 minutes in Washington’s 104-92 loss.

“I thought he was solid,” Wittman said. “Kevin was active. I thought he defended pretty well. He did a good job. That is why I went with him. I thought he was just more physical. I needed people that were going to match their physicality.”

The performance was a snapshot of Seraphin’s potential, but also one of his inconsistency.

Just two days earlier, during the Wizards’ win over the Miami Heat on Friday night, Wittman spent most of a timeout in the second quarter in Seraphin’s face after the 24-year-old completed a series of gaffes. He was then pulled for Drew Gooden III and played just 10 minutes in the Wizards’ comeback victory.

On Sunday, Seraphin was aggressive on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he took eight shots and four free throws in the second period. Defensively, he blocked two shots, including a thunderous swat of an Isaiah Thomas layup attempt. His teammates, however, did not follow suit.

“I was trying to get everybody in the game and involved, but everybody was rushing,” Seraphin said. “I think we just missed this game.”

PIERCE’S TOE STILL ‘DAY TO DAY’

Paul Pierce missed nine of his 13 shots, including four of five from behind the arc, in 27 minutes Sunday and indicated that the sore right big toe he has been dealing with remains a problem.

Pierce has played the last two games after missing Wednesday’s contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves, but when asked if the foot would require a period of time sidelined, Pierce was non-committal.

“Let’s see,” Pierce responded. “Like I said before it’s day to day.”

Pierce is 37 years old and in his 17th NBA season.

FOUL TROUBLE TROUBLES BEAL

Foul trouble immediately plagued Bradley Beal on Sunday. He picked up his first two fouls within seconds in the first quarter and played the last 5 minutes 29 seconds of the game with five.

He finished with 14 points on 4-of-11 shooting and seven rebounds in 26 minutes.

“I can’t use that as an excuse,” Beal said. “We still have guys that can come in and step in as well so I can’t use that as an excuse. I still got to step up and do what I do.”

NENE EMERGES WITH SWOLLEN EYE

Nene emerged from the loss with an unsightly stat line and a swollen left eye after receiving an elbow from one of the Suns’ Morris twins. After netting 20 points Friday, the Brazilian big man scored eight points on 1-of-8 shooting off the bench in 21 minutes.