• Preview
• Recap
• Bleachers

Lopez, Nets visit Wizards seeking third straight win

Feb 4, 2009 - 11:14 AM New Jersey (22-27) at Washington (10-38), 7:00 p.m. EST

WASHINGTON (Ticker) -- The recent play of rookie Brook Lopez has jettisoned his name into the class of top-three picks Derrick Rose, Michael Beasley and O.J. Mayo.

Seeking their third straight win, the New Jersey Nets hope their blossoming center continues his great play when they visit the lowly Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Lopez, the 10th overall pick in June's draft, averaged a season-high 14.9 points and 7.9 rebounds in January and punctuated the stellar month with a 24-point and 17-rebound effort in Saturday' 85-83 triumph over the Philadelphia 76ers.

The 20-year-old then recorded 22 points and 12 boards in New Jersey's 99-85 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

In that contest, Vince Carter notched his fifth triple-double with 15 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds while rookie Ryan Anderson registered 19 points and seven boards as the Nets ruined former fan-favorite Richard Jefferson's homecoming.

Washington, which has dropped six of seven, is coming off a 113-97 setback to the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday.

The Wizards have also lost 13 of their last 16 overall and are 4-28 against Eastern Conference teams.