Last time the Nets faced the Wizards, they were looking for their fourth straight win. Didn’t happen. Tonight in the nation’s capital, Brooklyn will try to rectify things.
Really happy for Nic Claxton receiving his first ever game winner to lead Brooklyn to a 105-103 victory against the Philadelphia 76ers, but the Nets now hover in a complicated seeding in the NBA standings. Call it betwixt and between.
The Nets now have a record of 21-35, one win away from tying the Chicago Bulls for 10th place in the East and the play-in tournament. A 10th place spot is the combination of both being known as a semi bad team but still good enough to beat any team on any given night (perfectly describes the Nets).
What makes matters more complicated is that the Nets will be taking on the Washington Wizards, an organization that has yet to gain double digits in the winning column. Going up against a team like this sparks up one question. Are the Nets committed to the tank or to winning? I couldn’t tell you. As Lucas Kaplan said a couple of weeks back, it’s been confusing But is there one question that can be answered you may ask? This game is very winnable…
Where to Watch
Catch the game at 7:00 PM on the YES Network and NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
No Cam Thomas (hamstring), D’Angelo Russell (ankle), Noah Clowney (ankle), or DeAnthony Melton (torn ACL.) Dariq Whitehead and Tosan Evbuomwan will be in Long Island where they’re trying to get into the G League post-season.
For the Wizards, rookie Alex Sarr (ankle), newly acquired Khris Middleton (ankle), also newly acquired Marcus Smart (finger). Malcolm Brogdon (ankle), and Saddiq Bey knee will all be out.
The Game
There’s nothing really to say for the Wizards other than they are really, really… really bad. But wait! That is not the end of the preview. Despite that, they beat the Nets back in February 5. It wasn’t even close, 119-102. Other than the Cleveland Cavaliers who are on the opposite end of the spectrum, the Wizards are the only team to beat the Nets in the month of February!
As the Nets found out back then, Wizards have a decent young core that they work with, including the number one pick Alex Sarr, who has not been doing bad with 11.0 points a game on 39% from the field. Kyshawn George and Bub Carrington are also rookies who are finding their way in the league.
With all the losing, the Wizards do have a leg up on possibly getting those kids out in Rutgers who Sean Marks (and every GM) loves so much, so maybe that will create some motivation for the Nets to win… or lose? See why this is confusing!
Still without D’Angelo Russell, the Nets have done a good job utilizing the combination of Killian Hayes, Reece Beekman and Trendon Watford, a 10-day, two-way and vets minimum player. Watford, who had another good game with 16 points and six assists, has done more than enough when he takes up the point guard duties and makes it his job to do the right thing. And of course, when Claxton is giving you five blocks on the defensive end, good things will happen. If the Nets can be successful on both ends of the floor like this past weekend, good things will happen… or is it bad things? Depends on your perspective.
Player To Watch: Jordan Poole
Poole is putting up really good number despite the lackluster season from his team, averaging almost 21 points a game on shooting splits of 41.5 % from the field and 36.7 % from beyond the arc, including a 42 point outburst he had against the Pacers right before the All Star break. Say what you want about him, but Poole is talented. He will definitely be looking to let things fly without too much defensive pressure in the backcourt.
Wizards head coach Brian Keefe, a veteran of the Brooklyn coaching staff, had this to say recently about what he wants to see from the 25-year-old the rest of this season.
“The one thing I wanted for Jordan was to be himself,” Keefe said.
“He just has continued to build on that, because we want him to be aggressive, because he can create for himself, but he also really can create for others. That’s what I think we want. And then he’s shown that, and he’s stepped into that, and he’s a guy who loves to compete and play. He’s always out there. He’s always working on his craft.”
From the Vault
Wizard fans are having an awful time, a far cry from nearly 50 years ago when the city was wildly in love with them. Known then as the Bullets, they were the first team to visit the White House after winning a championship. Jimmy Carter was President who initiated the tradition, which started as merely a hometown celebration of a big win.
To honor Carter who died late last year at the age of 100, the Monumental Sports Network, parent of the Wizards posted this tribute and memory of their 1977-78 team.
ICYMI, the Philadelphia Eagles, the first team to win big in the second Trump administration, has decided they will not accept a visit to the White House. A lot of traditions are dying at the White House.
More reading: Bullets Forever and SBNation NBA
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Washington Wizards Game Notes – Washington Wizards
- Wizards look to defeat Nets again to end skid – NBA
- Washington plays Brooklyn on home slide – AP