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Nets try to stay hot against struggling Wizards

Nov 8, 2007 - 1:59 PM Washington (0-3) at New Jersey (3-1) 7:30 pm EST

EAST RUTHERFORD, New Jersey (Ticker) - The New Jersey Nets look to win their third straight game on Thursday when they take on the struggling Washington Wizards.

The Nets have won back-to-back games following an embarrassing 37-point loss to the Toronto Raptors on Friday. New Jersey has relied heavily on its defense, holding both the Philadelphia 76ers and Atlanta Hawks under 90 points.

The Nets rank 14th in the NBA, allowing 99.0 points per game, but average six blocks a contest - eighth best in the league.

While New Jersey has been winning on the defensive end, the Wizards can't stop anyone. Washington allows 105.3 points per game - seventh worst in the league - a season after surrendering 104.9 points.

The Wizards are 0-3 for the first time since the 1992-93 season when they began the campaign with four consecutive losses. Despite the slow start, Brendan Haywood has presence in the lane for the first time in his seven-year career.

Haywood has logged three straight double-doubles for the first time in his career and is averaging 10.0 points and 13.7 rebounds this season. The 28-year-old 7-footer has never averaged more than 9.4 points or 6.8 rebounds for a season during his career.