Game ID: 22301219
Washington Wizards @ Brooklyn Nets
Friday, December 8, 2023 at 7:30 PM ET
Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
BKN 26 24 40 34 124WAS 18 29 24 26 97
BKN vs WAS ScoutingBKN vs WAS Scouting
Welcome to the scouting desk. The coffee is cold, the film is play-by-play, and somebody has to explain what happened.
Every game has a hinge — a stretch where it was decided, usually while everyone was watching something else. Start where the evidence lives: the Lineups' face-offs say which five actually won their minutes; the Possessions ledger says who ran ahead of the night's own pace; the Shot Chart says where the points really came from, which is rarely where the highlights were. When all three agree, that is the story. When they don't — that is why this desk has a chair.
BKN availability going into 11/28 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 8 since 11/10, out tonight
OUT Simmons missed 9 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 10 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 11 since 11/04, out tonight
BACK Clowney back 11/25 after 14, 3 min since (16% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 11/25 after 5, 4 min since (43% of 10)
NEW Walker IV 17 to 23 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 11/30 · 1 day's restOUT Thomas missed 9 since 11/10, returns tonight: 25 min (79% of 31)
OUT Simmons missed 10 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 5 since 11/19, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 11 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 12 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 2 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Brooks back 11/25 after 5, 4 min since (43% of 10)
NEW Dinwiddie 31 to 36 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 12/02 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 11 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 6 since 11/19, returns tonight: 21 min (110% of 19)
OUT Clowney missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 12 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 13 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 3 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 11/28, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 11/30 after 9, 25 min since (79% of 31)
NEW Dinwiddie 31 to 38 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 28 to 35 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 12/06 · 3 days' restOUT Simmons missed 12 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 13 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 14 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 4 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 3 since 11/28, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 11/30 after 9, 31 min since (99% of 31)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/02 after 6, 21 min since (110% of 19)
NEW Dinwiddie 31 to 36 min over the last 5
NEW Finney-Smith 28 to 34 min over the last 4
NEW O'Neale 24 to 30 min over the last 4
BKN availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 13 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 2 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 14 since 11/06, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 15 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 5 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 4 since 11/28, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 11/30 after 9, 30 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/02 after 6, 21 min since (112% of 19)
NEW Sharpe 15 to 21 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Simmons missed 14 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 3 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 15 since 11/06, returns tonight: 4 min (26% of 16)
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 16 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 6 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 5 since 11/28, returns tonight: 4 min (38% of 10)
BACK Thomas back 11/30 after 9, 30 min since (94% of 31)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/02 after 6, 21 min since (112% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 15 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 2 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 4 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 17 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 7 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Thomas back 11/30 after 9, 30 min since (95% of 31)
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 4 min since (26% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/14 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 16 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 3 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 5 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 18 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 8 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 4 min since (26% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 4 min since (38% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/16 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 17 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 4 since 12/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 6 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 19 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 9 since 11/26, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 12/11 after 15, 10 min since (67% of 16)
BACK Brooks back 12/11 after 5, 10 min since (92% of 10)
WAS availability going into 11/27 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 8 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 5 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Butler back 11/17 after 8, 7 min since (47% of 14)
BACK Muscala back 11/25 after 5, 18 min since (125% of 14)
WAS availability going into 11/29 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 9 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 6 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Butler back 11/25 after 2, 9 min since (65% of 14)
BACK Muscala back 11/25 after 5, 18 min since (125% of 14)
WAS availability going into 12/01 · 1 day's restOUT Muscala missed 2 since 11/27, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 10 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 7 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Butler back 11/25 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
WAS availability going into 12/06 · 4 days' restOUT Muscala missed 3 since 11/27, returns tonight: 6 min (43% of 14)
OUT Wright missed 11 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 8 since 11/17, out tonight
BACK Butler back 11/25 after 2, 8 min since (55% of 14)
WAS availability going into 12/08 · 1 day's restOUT Wright missed 12 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 9 since 11/17, returns tonight: 4 min (30% of 13)
BACK Butler back 11/25 after 2, 9 min since (66% of 14)
BACK Muscala back 11/25 after 5, 12 min since (84% of 14)
WAS availability going into 12/11 · 2 days' restOUT Shamet missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 13 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 11 min since (75% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 4 min since (30% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/13 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 14 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 3 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 14 min since (98% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 10 min since (80% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/15 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 15 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 4 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 11 min since (81% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 8 min since (64% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/17 · 1 day's restOUT Shamet missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 16 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 5 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Muscala back 12/06 after 3, 13 min since (91% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/08 after 9, 7 min since (54% of 13)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 41 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 27 and Dinwiddie at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Simmons (13 straight), Walker IV (2 straight), Clowney (5 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 121 a night and allowing 129, shooting 51 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 16 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 8 a night. One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-8 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 111 a night to Washington's 129. Call it Brooklyn 124, Washington 115.
11/28 vs TOR 115-103 — BKN notes
BKN won 115-103. BKN shot 45% (40 of 89) to TOR's 39%, 13 of 38 from three, and went to the line 26 times to TOR's 19 — 22 points from the stripe to their 12. BKN turned it over 15 times to TOR's 7, and TOR turned those into 11 steals. The glass went 59-46 for them. Dinwiddie led with 23 (5 of 17, 3 of 11 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Bridges added 22, O'Neale 18. The hinge was Q4, 39-28: a lead of 1 became 12, and the lead reached 15. Claxton was the night's best plus/minus at +20.
11/30 vs CHA 128-129 — BKN notes
BKN lost 128-129. BKN took 14 more shots (105 to 91), fed by 22 offensive rebounds, but shot 50% to CHA's 51%, 14 of 36 from three. The glass went 52-41 for them. Thomas led with 26 (11 of 21, 2 of 5 from three); M. Bridges added 22, Claxton 20. Q1 was theirs, 37-31, but the other 3 periods went 98-91 against them. They led by as many as 10. Claxton's -7 in 29 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/02 vs ORL 129-101 — BKN notes
BKN won 129-101. BKN shot 51% (46 of 91) to ORL's 40%, 14 of 34 from three. The glass went 57-37 for them. Bridges led with 42 (12 of 20, 3 of 6 from three, 15 of 18 at the line); Dinwiddie added 22, Thomas 20. The hinge was Q1, 43-22: from level to 21 ahead, and the lead reached 28. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +26.
12/06 @ ATL 114-113 — BKN notes
BKN won 114-113. BKN shot 46% (43 of 94) to ATL's 45%, 11 of 27 from three, and went to the line 24 times to ATL's 18 — 17 points from the stripe to their 17. Bridges led with 32 (12 of 19, 3 of 4 from three); Johnson added 17, Finney-Smith 15. The hinge was Q3, 28-26: the deficit went from 3 to 1. BKN trailed 53-56 at the half and won the second half 61-57. O'Neale was the night's best plus/minus at +10.
12/08 vs WAS 124-97 — BKN notes
BKN won 124-97. BKN shot 48% (50 of 104) to WAS's 42%, 10 of 33 from three. BKN turned it over 10 times to WAS's 16. The glass went 55-41 for them. Bridges led with 21 (9 of 15, 2 of 3 from three); Thomas added 17, Sharpe 15. The hinge was Q3, 40-24: a lead of 3 became 19, and the lead reached 30. Bridges was the night's best plus/minus at +24.
12/11 @ SAC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Sacramento comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 121, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 28 free throws a game; Fox at 32 and Monk at 19 a game. 2 days' rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 122 a night and allowing 109, shooting 48 percent and 37 from three, 23 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 11 a night. Without Simmons (14 straight), Walker IV (3 straight), Clowney (6 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-11 a night and Sacramento plus-2 and the defense, Brooklyn allowing 109 a night to Sacramento's 121. Call it Brooklyn 117, Sacramento 116, Sacramento keeping it close.
12/13 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 111 a night and allowing 113, shooting 46 percent and 37 from three, 29 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Durant (2 straight), Allen (2 straight). Second night of a back-to-back. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 123 a night and allowing 114, shooting 48 percent and 40 from three, 22 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 18 a game. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Simmons (15 straight), Smith Jr. (2 straight), Walker IV (4 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-8 a night and Phoenix minus-1 and the line, where Phoenix takes 29 free throws a game to Brooklyn's 22. Call it Brooklyn 116, Phoenix 114, Phoenix keeping it close.
12/14 @ DEN — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Denver comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 115, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Murray at 24 and Jokić at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 111, shooting 48 percent and 39 from three, 24 free throws a game; Bridges at 28 and Thomas at 17 a game. Without Simmons (16 straight), Smith Jr. (3 straight), Walker IV (5 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Denver wins, in a game with no one edge to lean on. Call it Denver 115, Brooklyn 114, Brooklyn keeping it close.
12/16 @ GSW — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Golden State comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 119, shooting 44 percent and 36 from three, 25 free throws a game; Curry at 26 and Thompson at 17 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Payton II (6 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 115, shooting 46 percent and 36 from three, 21 free throws a game; Bridges at 21 and Thomas at 16 a game. Without Simmons (17 straight), Smith Jr. (4 straight), Walker IV (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Golden State wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Golden State has been plus-9 a night and Brooklyn plus-0 and the turnovers, Golden State giving it away 17 times a game to Brooklyn's 12. Call it Golden State 117, Brooklyn 115, Brooklyn keeping it close.
11/27 @ DET 126-107 — WAS notes
WAS won 126-107. WAS shot 51% (45 of 89) to DET's 42%, 10 of 29 from three, and went to the line 28 times to DET's 19 — 26 points from the stripe to their 13. Kuzma led with 32 (10 of 23, 2 of 7 from three, 10 of 11 at the line); Avdija added 16, Gallinari 16. The hinge was Q3, 37-29: a lead of 3 became 11, and the lead reached 21. Coulibaly was the night's best plus/minus at +19.
11/29 @ ORL 120-139 — WAS notes
WAS lost 120-139. WAS shot 47% (41 of 87) to ORL's 61%, 11 of 29 from three, and went to the line 35 times to ORL's 24 — 27 points from the stripe to their 20. WAS turned it over 10 times to ORL's 18. The glass went 29-44 against them. Kuzma led with 23 (9 of 20, 1 of 4 from three); Avdija added 22, Poole 19. Q3 was theirs, 33-36, but the other 3 periods went 103-87 against them. Kispert's -18 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/01 @ ORL 125-130 — WAS notes
WAS lost 125-130. WAS shot 51% (45 of 89) to ORL's 52%, 13 of 28 from three. Kuzma led with 27 (10 of 18, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 6 at the line); Gafford added 18, Kispert 15. Q1 was theirs, 36-31, but the other 3 periods went 99-89 against them.
12/06 vs PHI 126-131 — WAS notes
WAS lost 126-131. WAS shot 57% (52 of 92) to PHI's 51%, 14 of 35 from three, and got to the line just 8 times against 22 fouls committed. The glass went 32-43 against them. Poole led with 23 (10 of 16, 3 of 5 from three); Jones added 20, Gafford 18. Q1 was theirs, 29-25, but the other 3 periods went 106-97 against them. They led by as many as 10. Kuzma's -12 in 34 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/08 @ BKN 97-124 — WAS notes
WAS lost 97-124. WAS shot 42% (38 of 91) to BKN's 48%, 6 of 33 from three. WAS turned it over 16 times to BKN's 10, and BKN turned those into 8 steals. The glass went 41-55 against them. Kuzma led with 17 (8 of 17, 1 of 4 from three); Avdija added 15, Jones 14. Q2 was theirs, 29-24, the deficit cut from 8 to 3, but the other 3 periods went 100-68 against them. Kuzma's -23 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/11 @ PHI — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Philadelphia comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 125 a night and allowing 117, shooting 49 percent and 41 from three, 28 free throws a game; Embiid at 39 and Maxey at 30 a game. Without House Jr. (6 straight). 2 days' rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 126, shooting 49 percent and 35 from three, 25 free throws a game; Kuzma at 23 and Poole at 15 a game. That is 4 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Shamet (2 straight). 2 days' rest.
So: Philadelphia wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Philadelphia has been plus-1 a night and Washington minus-9 and the defense, Philadelphia allowing 117 a night to Washington's 126. Call it Philadelphia 126, Washington 115, Philadelphia by 11.
12/13 vs NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 134, shooting 48 percent and 34 from three, 25 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Poole at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Shamet (3 straight). One day's rest. New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 117, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Williamson at 20 and Ingram at 19 a game. Without Nance Jr. (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, on the road, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 117 a night to Washington's 134 and the glass, where New Orleans has been minus-2 a night and Washington minus-9. Call it New Orleans 121, Washington 116.
12/15 vs IND — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 114 a night and allowing 135, shooting 49 percent and 36 from three, 23 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 13 a game. That is 5 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. Without Shamet (4 straight). One day's rest. Indiana comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 130 a night and allowing 125, shooting 52 percent and 38 from three, 23 free throws a game; Haliburton at 22 and Turner at 21 a game. Without Nembhard (2 straight), Smith (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Indiana wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Indiana has been plus-2 a night and Washington minus-9 and the defense, Indiana allowing 125 a night to Washington's 135. Call it Indiana 129, Washington 121.
12/17 @ PHX — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Phoenix comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 118, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Durant at 29 and Booker at 29 a game. Without Gordon (2 straight), Okogie (2 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 133, shooting 50 percent and 36 from three, 22 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 7 a night. Without Shamet (5 straight). One day's rest.
So: Phoenix wins, and the game turns on the defense, Phoenix allowing 118 a night to Washington's 133 and the glass, where Phoenix has been minus-3 a night and Washington minus-7. Call it Phoenix 123, Washington 115.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
WASAG A. Gill
BC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DG D. Gallinari
EO E. Omoruyi
JB J. Bernard
JB J. Butler
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
MM M. Muscala
PB P. Baldwin Jr.
TJ T. Jones
BKNCJ C. Johnson
CT C. Thomas
DF D. Finney-Smith
DS D. Sharpe
HG H. Giles III
MB M. Bridges
NC N. Claxton
RO R. O'Neale
SD S. Dinwiddie
TW T. Watford
WAS/BKN the team itself, not a player
-- the feed named nobody
What
What happened
the codes in the Events column
M2 / M3 made 2 / made 3
X2 / X3 missed 2 / missed 3
FT / X1 free throw made / missed
AST assist
OR / DR offensive / defensive rebound
STL steal
BLK block
TO turnover
FL foul
OF offensive foul — ends the possession
VIOL violation
JUMP jump ball
TM timeout
IR instant replay
HE heave at the buzzer, filed to the team
END the clock ran out, ball in hand
Where
Where a shot came from
the middle field of M3.LW.25
RM at the rim inside 4 ft
RC right corner
RW right wing
SO straight on
LW left wing
LC left corner
M3.LW.25 made 3, left wing, 25 ft
X2.RM.01 missed 2, at the rim, 1 ft
When
When it happened
the Offset column
one number per event, in the Events order:
whole seconds from the start of the
possession to that event
Events FL X3.RC.23 OR M2.RM.01
Offset 0 18 22 24
the foul opens the possession at 0s;
the putback ends it at 24s, which is
the possession's own Dur
NEW YORK -- — Mikal Bridges scored 21 points and the Brooklyn Nets routed the Washington Wizards 124-97 on Friday night for their third straight victory and fifth in six games.
Cam Thomas added 17 points, Day’Ron Sharpe had 15 points and 11 rebounds and Nic Claxton finished with 13 points and 15 rebounds. At 12-9, the Nets are a season-best three games over .500.
“I think our activity level was higher in the second half,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “The ball started going in. Sometimes it’s just that simple, seeing the ball go in for you. This is a game that we can hopefully look back on.”
Kyle Kuzma led Washington with 17 points, Bilal Coulibaly had 11 points and 10 rebounds and Deni Advija had 15 points and had seven rebounds. The Wizards shot just 18.2 percent from 3-point range and fell to 3-18 with their fourth straight loss.
“I think we got a little frustrated with the lack of shot-making,” Wizards coach Wes Unseld Jr. said. “Six for 33 is a tough night for us for on 3s. I thought we allowed them to run out and get some fast-break points and it affected our defense.”
After shooting just 39% in the first half, but leading 50-47 at the break, the Nets outscored the Wizards 74-50 in the second.
“I think we were more aggressive on defense in the second half, and we hit some 3s, too,” Sharpe said. “We just hit them in the mouth, and they backed off and we kept playing hard.”
Brooklyn broke it open in the third quarter, making 16 of 26 field goals and outscoring Washington 40-24. The Nets had edges of 55-40 in rebounds and outscored Washington 76-56 in the paint.
“We were just being aggressive and finding holes and mismatches, and we got size,” Bridges said. “Just trying to get in the paint. Good things happen when you hit the paint.”