• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Nets-Wizards Preview

Apr 4, 2010 - 4:28 AM By KATE HEDLIN STATS Writer

New Jersey (10-65) at Washington (22-53), 6:00 p.m. EDT

The New Jersey Nets own the NBA's worst record, but they have certainly been playing better than the Washington Wizards lately.

The Nets look to continue their late-season success Sunday when they visit the Wizards, who have a chance to snap a nine-game home losing streak and finish a season series sweep.

While a meeting between two of the NBA's worst teams isn't going to draw much attention, New Jersey (11-65) has improved recently, winning four of its last six, including a 115-87 rout of New Orleans on Saturday.

The Nets had eight players score in double figures for the first time since November 2002, including rookie Terrence Williams, who had 14 points and a career-high 14 assists, and Chris Douglas-Roberts, who scored 17. They shot a season-high 58.2 percent, less than two weeks after shooting 57.1 percent in a win over Detroit.

New Jersey is the lowest-scoring team in the NBA with 91.8 points per game, but it's averaged 100.7 over its last six. Williams has helped, scoring 16.0 points per game over the last four contests. For the season, he averages 7.9.

"We're playing well right now," said Devin Harris, who had five of his team's season-high 34 assists against the Hornets. "I like the way the ball is moving. I don't know how many assists we had but we're moving the ball from side to side. When we can attack from side to side we can be very effective."

To win back-to-back games for the second time this season, the Nets will have to get their first victory against the Wizards (22-53) this season. They have lost four straight overall between the two, and Washington's three wins this season include a 123-104 victory at the Verizon Center on Oct. 31. New Jersey has averaged 89.3 points in the season series.

While the Nets are trying to end a disappointing season on a positive note, the Wizards appear to be heading the other direction with 17 losses in their last 18 games.

After snapping a 16-game losing streak against New Orleans on Wednesday, the Wizards lost 95-87 to Chicago on Friday. Washington shot 37.5 percent and was held to 12 points in the fourth quarter. Andray Blatche scored 18 points, adding 13 rebounds and seven assists, but he shot 7 of 20.

The loss was the Wizards' ninth straight at home, setting a franchise record. They haven't reached 90 points in any of the last three games and are averaging 91.8 points during the skid.

"Continuity brings success, but like I said, we made a decision. Instead of continuity, we went with evaluation of players and who we thought would remain here and we'd start our continuity with," coach Flip Saunders said.

"It's frustrating when you lose games like this ... but I told them we're more worried about the process than the outcome."

The Washington franchise hasn't swept the season series against New Jersey since winning all six meetings in 1987-88.