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Nets snap long skid as Wizards remain winless on the road

Dec 17, 2010 - 8:19 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Devin Harris scored 29 points and handed out nine assists, as the New Jersey Nets downed the road-weary Washington Wizards, 97-89, to snap an eight-game losing streak.

Brook Lopez chipped in 18 points, while Kris Humphries totaled 12 points and 17 rebounds in New Jersey's first win since November 28 against Portland.

Nick Young scored 22 points and Gilbert Arenas added 19 points and nine helpers for the Wizards, who fell to 0-13 as the visitor this season.

Both teams came in with an Eastern Conference-worst six wins.

Washington came all the way back from a 23-point deficit and tied the game, 75-75, on Al Thornton's bucket 3:08 into the fourth quarter.

It remained close down the stretch, but the Wizards never gained the lead.

Two Lopez free throws with 1:36 left made it a 90-87 game, and Lopez stuffed Hilton Armstrong on the right block at the other end.

After an unsuccessful Nets possession, Kirk Hinrich missed a tough runner with 34.9 seconds on the clock. Harris followed with two free throws, and the hosts held on from there.

"This is one we had to have," said Harris. "From here on out we've got to fight for every one."

The Nets reeled off 13 straight points early on, with Lopez's hook shot yielding a 15-4 lead just past the midway point of the opening stanza.

The difference was 32-17 after 12 minutes, and New Jersey continued to cruise in the second quarter, going up by as many as 23 before taking a 55-38 advantage into the break.

It was still a double-digit game until the Wizards scored seven straight near the halfway point of the third. Arenas' three-pointer pulled the Wizards within 64-57, but the Nets still led by seven, 74-67, with 12 minutes to play.

"The energy we came out with in the second half is the energy we should have started with," said Wizards center JaVale McGee. "We probably would have won by like 11 or 12."

Game Notes

The Wizards played without the services of rookie guard John Wall for the second straight game due to a right knee injury. Forwards Andray Blatche and Yi Jianlian were also out with knee injuries...Washington swept the four-game series against New Jersey last season...The Nets got to the line 47 times, making 35...Travis Outlaw ended with 13 points for New Jersey...Thornton tallied 18 points for Washington.