Final
Wizards-Nets Preview
Dec 25, 2015 - 10:11 PM The Washington Wizards have been as reliant as ever on John Wall for scoring, but that might be starting to change. The point guard's shot hasn't been falling lately, yet the Wizards are on fire from 3-point range and on the verge of a season-best win streak.The run can reach four Saturday against the visiting Brooklyn Nets, who have won once in seven games but have been encouraged by their latest efforts.
Wall's 19.4 points, 16.3 shots and 4.3 3-point attempts per game are at least tied for career highs, but he's been limited to 15.8 points on 32.5 percent shooting in his last five. He's still posted four straight double-doubles while averaging 14.0 assists.
"John again doesn't have to carry the load for us scoring (but) he still ended with 14 assists," coach Randy Wittman said after Wednesday's 100-91 home win over Memphis. "John has a sense for needing to take over or to dish the ball."
The team completed a 3-0 homestand while averaging 107.3 points and shooting 48.8 percent. The most impressive number has been the 49.3 percent the Wizards (13-14) have hit from long range in that time, despite being without plenty of perimeter contributors and playing the last game with nine players.
Bradley Beal and Otto Porter have been out, and Garrett Temple has started six of the last seven games. In the previous three, he's averaged 21.3 points and shot 53.5 percent while hitting 10 of 22 from beyond the arc.
"Whether they're missing shots or making shots, I still believe in these guys," Wall said. "Giving them the ball in certain situations, and they're kind of just getting into a rhythm and making shots."
Beal is dealing with a leg injury and is scheduled to be re-evaluated Saturday, while Porter has missed three straight with a thigh injury.
The teams are meeting for the first time since a four-game split a season ago.
Brooklyn (8-21) has lost five straight at home after Wednesday's 119-118 overtime loss to Dallas. It followed a 105-102 win at Chicago on Monday, so the Nets feel as though they're headed in the right direction after a discouraging five-game skid.
They shot 50.5 percent and went 10 of 19 from 3-point range against the Mavericks and limited themselves to 11 turnovers in 53 minutes. The problem was Dallas shot 54.9 percent, and Brooklyn's last seven opponents have posted a combined 49.1 mark.
"There are some good things that we can definitely pull from the game," Thaddeus Young told the team's official website. "We just have to win basketball games. We have to bring the intensity that we had in the last two games to the next game and carry it over. If we keep playing like we've been playing, we're going to win more games."
Young might also be a key to that. The forward had a season-high 29 points and 10 rebounds while shooting 14 for 20. In his first full season in Brooklyn, Young is averaging 16.0 points and a career-best 9.2 rebounds.
"Just a tremendous effort," coach Lionel Hollins said of Young. "He was just battling. That's what I like and expect from the whole group and that's what we got. His numbers stand out over other people, but I thought we got the efforts we needed and the extra efforts."
The Nets have also gotten some solid offense recently from Bojan Bogdanovic, who has started the last 10 games in the backcourt with Jarrett Jack. The 6-foot-8 guard scored 17 points against the Mavericks and is averaging 14.0 on 57.1 percent shooting in the last three games, including going 10 of 16 from 3-point range.
- WASHINGTON: 111
BROOKLYN: 96
Final
Dec 26 6:17 PM - WASHINGTON: 79
BROOKLYN: 77
End of 3rd
Dec 26 5:44 PM - WASHINGTON: 79
BROOKLYN: 77
End of 3rd
Dec 26 5:43 PM - WASHINGTON: 52
BROOKLYN: 50
Halftime
Dec 26 5:05 PM - WASHINGTON: 34
BROOKLYN: 26
End of 1st
Dec 26 4:35 PM - WASHINGTON: 0
BROOKLYN: 0
1st Quarter - 12:00
Dec 26 4:11 PM
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