The Bucks hung with the playoff-bound Wizards for 2½ quarters but finally took a knockout blow late in the third quarter and fell, 104-91, at the Verizon Center. Washington went on a 16-5 run to take an 87-74 lead into the final period.
Bradley Beal finished with 26 points to lead the Wizards (42-38), and point guard John Wall added 15 points and eight assists.
Washington stayed in the sixth-seeded position in the Eastern Conference race, ahead of Charlotte, which beat the Philadelphia 76ers.
And at the bottom of the conference the Bucks (15-65) clinched at least a tie for the league's worst record and pole position for the May 20 draft lottery. Any Bucks defeat or 76ers victory over the final two games will clinch the position outright for Milwaukee.