Game ID: 22300430
Brooklyn Nets @ Washington Wizards
Friday, December 29, 2023 at 7:00 PM ET
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC
Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4 Final
WAS 25 29 30 26 110BKN 25 28 33 18 104
BKN @ WAS ScoutingBKN @ 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.
WAS availability going into 12/21 · 2 days' restOUT Shamet missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
OUT Wright missed 18 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/17, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 7 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/22 · back-to-backOUT Shamet missed 8 since 12/06, returns tonight: 13 min (80% of 16)
OUT Wright missed 19 since 11/12, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/17, returns tonight: 8 min (58% of 13)
OUT Davis missed 8 since 12/06, out tonight
WAS availability going into 12/26 · 3 days' restOUT Wright missed 20 since 11/12, returns tonight: 13 min (97% of 14)
OUT Davis missed 9 since 12/06, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 13 min since (80% of 16)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Davis missed 10 since 12/06, returns tonight: 6 min (51% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 8 min since (58% of 13)
WAS availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 2 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 10 min since (66% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 13 min since (97% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Butler missed 3 since 12/26, out tonight
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 12 min since (78% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 15 min since (109% of 14)
BACK Baldwin Jr. back 12/22 after 3, 7 min since (53% of 13)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (51% of 12)
WAS availability going into 1/03 · 2 days' restOUT Gallinari missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Butler missed 4 since 12/26, returns tonight: 9 min (62% of 14)
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Davis missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 5 min (42% of 12)
BACK Shamet back 12/22 after 8, 14 min since (86% of 16)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 16 min since (115% of 14)
WAS availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Gallinari missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 9 min since (62% of 14)
BACK Wright back 12/26 after 20, 17 min since (120% of 14)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (47% of 12)
NEW Muscala 14 to 20 min over the last 4
WAS availability going into 1/06 · back-to-backOUT Gallinari missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Baldwin Jr. missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Butler back 1/03 after 4, 7 min since (50% of 14)
BACK Davis back 12/27 after 10, 6 min since (48% of 12)
NEW Muscala 14 to 19 min over the last 5
BKN availability going into 12/22 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 20 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Smith Jr. missed 7 since 12/08, returns tonight: 19 min (103% of 19)
OUT Walker IV missed 9 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 22 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 12 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 3 since 12/16, out tonight
BKN availability going into 12/23 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 21 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 10 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 23 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 13 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 4 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 19 min since (103% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/26 · 2 days' restOUT Simmons missed 22 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 11 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 24 since 11/04, out tonight
OUT Whitehead missed 14 since 11/26, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 5 since 12/16, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 19 min since (101% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/27 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 23 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 12 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 15 since 11/26, returns tonight: 24 min (150% of 16)
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 25 since 11/04, returns tonight: 21 min (170% of 12)
OUT Whitehead missed 15 since 11/26, returns tonight: 21 min (178% of 12)
OUT Brooks missed 6 since 12/16, returns tonight: 29 min (278% of 10)
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 20 min since (105% of 19)
BKN availability going into 12/29 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 24 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 13 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 22 min since (118% of 19)
BACK Clowney back 12/27 after 15, 24 min since (150% of 16)
BACK Keo. Johnson back 12/27 after 25, 21 min since (170% of 12)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 29 min since (278% of 10)
BKN availability going into 12/31 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 25 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 14 since 12/02, out tonight
BACK Smith Jr. back 12/22 after 7, 22 min since (116% of 19)
BACK Clowney back 12/27 after 15, 24 min since (150% of 16)
BACK Keo. Johnson back 12/27 after 25, 21 min since (170% of 12)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 29 min since (278% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/02 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 26 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 15 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Wilson missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 12 min (77% of 16)
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 2 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Brooks missed 2 since 12/29, returns tonight: 8 min (80% of 10)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BKN availability going into 1/03 · back-to-backOUT Simmons missed 27 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 16 since 12/02, out tonight
OUT Clowney missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 3 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 1/02 after 2, 12 min since (77% of 16)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 19 min since (179% of 10)
BKN availability going into 1/05 · 1 day's restOUT Simmons missed 28 since 11/08, out tonight
OUT Walker IV missed 17 since 12/02, returns tonight: 6 min (34% of 17)
OUT Clowney missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
OUT Keo. Johnson missed 4 since 12/29, out tonight
BACK Wilson back 1/02 after 2, 9 min since (55% of 16)
BACK Whitehead back 12/27 after 15, 21 min since (178% of 12)
BACK Brooks back 12/27 after 6, 13 min since (127% of 10)
I Know — the desk, before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 130, shooting 49 percent and 37 from three, 24 free throws a game; Poole at 22 and Kuzma at 19 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 9 a night. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 123, shooting 46 percent and 34 from three, 29 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 20 and Thomas at 18 a game. Without Simmons (24 straight), Walker IV (13 straight). One day's rest.
So: Brooklyn wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where Brooklyn has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-9 and the turnovers, Washington giving it away 13 times a game to Brooklyn's 10. Call it Brooklyn 121, Washington 120, Washington keeping it close.
12/21 @ POR 118-117 — WAS notes
WAS won 118-117. WAS shot 50% (42 of 84) to POR's 45%, 12 of 30 from three, and went to the line 32 times to POR's 23 — 22 points from the stripe to their 17. The glass went 37-51 against them. Kuzma led with 32 (11 of 22, 3 of 7 from three, 7 of 10 at the line); Jones added 24, Gafford 16. The hinge was Q1, 33-24: from level to 9 ahead, and the lead reached 18.
12/22 @ GSW 118-129 — WAS notes
WAS lost 118-129. WAS shot 45% (44 of 97) to GSW's 48%, 11 of 35 from three. The glass went 39-57 against them. Poole led with 25 (7 of 21, 3 of 12 from three, 8 of 9 at the line); Kispert added 18, Gafford 15. Q4 was theirs, 35-28, the deficit cut from 18 to 11, but the other 3 periods went 101-83 against them. Kispert's -20 in 25 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/26 vs ORL 119-127 — WAS notes
WAS lost 119-127. WAS shot 49% (43 of 87) to ORL's 53%, 16 of 42 from three. Poole led with 30 (11 of 20, 6 of 11 from three); Jones added 22, Kuzma 17. Q4 was theirs, 31-29, the deficit cut from 10 to 8, but the other 3 periods went 98-88 against them. Poole's -18 in 33 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/27 vs TOR 102-132 — WAS notes
WAS lost 102-132. WAS shot 47% (42 of 90) to TOR's 57%, 8 of 33 from three. The glass went 34-53 against them. Kuzma led with 14 (6 of 13, 1 of 5 from three); Poole added 14, Kispert 13. Q2 was theirs, 25-28, but the other 3 periods went 104-77 against them. Kuzma's -21 in 30 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 vs BKN 110-104 — WAS notes
WAS won 110-104. WAS shot 51% (46 of 91) to BKN's 43%, 15 of 38 from three, and got to the line 7 times to BKN's 27. The glass went 43-54 against them. Kuzma led with 26 (11 of 22, 4 of 10 from three); Avdija added 21, Kispert 15. The hinge was Q4, 26-18: WAS came in trailing by 2 and left it ahead by 6. Muscala was the night's best plus/minus at +21.
12/31 vs ATL — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 113 a night and allowing 122, shooting 48 percent and 35 from three, 20 free throws a game; Kuzma at 19 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. One day's rest. Atlanta comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 122, shooting 45 percent and 34 from three, 22 free throws a game; Young at 27 and Murray at 21 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Hunter (4 straight), Krejčí (3 straight), Fernando (6 straight). One day's rest.
So: Washington wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Atlanta has been minus-1 a night and Washington minus-11. Call it Washington 121, Atlanta 120, Atlanta keeping it close.
1/03 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 114, shooting 46 percent and 30 from three, 18 free throws a game; Allen at 21 and LeVert at 19 a game. Without Garland (8 straight), Eva. Mobley (12 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 115 a night and allowing 124, shooting 48 percent and 33 from three, 18 free throws a game; Kuzma at 20 and Poole at 17 a game. It has lost the glass by 11 a night. 2 days' rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-3 a night and Washington minus-11 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 114 a night to Washington's 124. Call it Cleveland 120, Washington 113.
1/05 @ CLE — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Cleveland comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 119 a night and allowing 110, shooting 48 percent and 32 from three, 20 free throws a game; Mitchell at 27 and LeVert at 22 a game. It has won the glass by 9 a night. Without Garland (9 straight), Eva. Mobley (13 straight). One day's rest. Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 112 a night and allowing 127, shooting 47 percent and 34 from three, 15 free throws a game; Kuzma at 22 and Kispert at 14 a game. It has lost the glass by 13 a night. One day's rest.
So: Cleveland wins, and the game turns on the glass, where Cleveland has been plus-9 a night and Washington minus-13 and the defense, Cleveland allowing 110 a night to Washington's 127. Call it Cleveland 123, Washington 111, Cleveland by 12.
1/06 vs NYK — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Washington comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 106 a night and allowing 124, shooting 45 percent and 32 from three, 14 free throws a game; Kuzma at 21 and Avdija at 14 a game. That is 3 straight losses. It has lost the glass by 19 a night. Second night of a back-to-back. New York comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 118 a night and allowing 111, shooting 47 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Randle at 30 and Brunson at 25 a game. That is 3 straight wins. It has won the glass by 8 a night. Without Robinson (14 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: New York wins, on the road, and the game turns on the glass, where New York has been plus-8 a night and Washington minus-19 and the defense, New York allowing 111 a night to Washington's 124. Call it New York 120, Washington 112.
12/22 vs DEN 117-122 — BKN notes
BKN lost 117-122. BKN shot 48% (43 of 89) to DEN's 52%, 13 of 33 from three. Thomas led with 23 (8 of 21, 1 of 6 from three, 6 of 6 at the line); Johnson added 17, Finney-Smith 14. Q2 was theirs, 32-30, but the other 3 periods went 92-85 against them.
12/23 vs DET 126-115 — BKN notes
BKN won 126-115. BKN shot 52% (45 of 86) to DET's 49%, 10 of 24 from three. Bridges led with 29 (9 of 17, 1 of 4 from three, 10 of 10 at the line); Thomas added 20, Johnson 18. The hinge was Q1, 32-21: from level to 11 ahead, and the lead reached 21. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +22.
12/26 @ DET 118-112 — BKN notes
BKN won 118-112. BKN shot 50% (41 of 82) to DET's 44%, 9 of 22 from three, and went to the line 43 times to DET's 32 — 27 points from the stripe to their 23. The glass went 42-52 against them. Johnson led with 24 (9 of 13, 4 of 6 from three); Bridges added 21, Thomas 17. The hinge was Q2, 36-23: BKN came in trailing by 6 and left it ahead by 7. Finney-Smith was the night's best plus/minus at +16.
12/27 vs MIL 122-144 — BKN notes
BKN lost 122-144. BKN took 12 more shots (101 to 89), fed by 17 offensive rebounds, but shot 45% to MIL's 58%, 7 of 32 from three, and went to the line 29 times to MIL's 23 — 25 points from the stripe to their 17. Wilson led with 21 (5 of 13, 0 of 3 from three, 11 of 11 at the line); Watford added 17, Smith Jr. 14. Q1 was theirs, 31-32, but the other 3 periods went 112-91 against them. Clowney's -19 in 24 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/29 @ WAS 104-110 — BKN notes
BKN lost 104-110. BKN shot 43% (39 of 91) to WAS's 51%, 9 of 28 from three, and went to the line 27 times to WAS's 7 — 17 points from the stripe to their 3. The glass went 54-43 for them. Bridges led with 19 (6 of 14, 2 of 6 from three, 5 of 7 at the line); Dinwiddie added 17, Johnson 16. Q3 was theirs, 33-30, turning a 1-point deficit into a 2-point lead, but the other 3 periods went 80-71 against them. Smith Jr.'s -21 in 20 minutes was the worst on the floor.
12/31 @ OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 126 a night and allowing 113, shooting 54 percent and 40 from three, 18 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 35 and Jal. Williams at 22 a game. That is 3 straight wins. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 121, shooting 47 percent and 35 from three, 31 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 19 and Bridges at 18 a game. Without Simmons (25 straight), Walker IV (14 straight). One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, and the game turns on the line, where Brooklyn takes 31 free throws a game to OKC's 18 and the arc, OKC at 40 percent from three to Brooklyn's 35. Call it OKC 122, Brooklyn 114.
1/02 @ NOP — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
New Orleans comes in 3-2 over its last five, scoring 117 a night and allowing 108, shooting 50 percent and 38 from three, 24 free throws a game; Williamson at 24 and Ingram at 22 a game. One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 116 a night and allowing 121, shooting 45 percent and 31 from three, 32 free throws a game; Bridges at 19 and Cam. Johnson at 18 a game. That is 3 straight losses. Without Simmons (26 straight), Walker IV (15 straight), Clowney (2 straight). One day's rest.
So: New Orleans wins, and the game turns on the defense, New Orleans allowing 108 a night to Brooklyn's 121 and the arc, New Orleans at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 31. Call it New Orleans 119, Brooklyn 112.
1/03 @ HOU — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Houston comes in 2-3 over its last five, scoring 120 a night and allowing 120, shooting 49 percent and 38 from three, 25 free throws a game; Sengun at 29 and Ja. Green at 18 a game. Without Brooks (3 straight). One day's rest. Brooklyn comes in 1-4 over its last five, scoring 107 a night and allowing 120, shooting 42 percent and 28 from three, 28 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 18 and Bridges at 16 a game. That is 4 straight losses. Without Simmons (27 straight), Walker IV (16 straight), Clowney (3 straight). Second night of a back-to-back.
So: Houston wins, and the game turns on the arc, Houston at 38 percent from three to Brooklyn's 28. Call it Houston 119, Brooklyn 111.
1/05 vs OKC — I Know, the desk before tip-off
Written before tip-off, from the five games each side brought in.
Brooklyn comes in 0-5 over its last five, scoring 104 a night and allowing 120, shooting 40 percent and 27 from three, 24 free throws a game; Cam. Johnson at 15 and Bridges at 15 a game. That is 5 straight losses. Without Simmons (28 straight), Walker IV (17 straight), Clowney (4 straight). One day's rest. OKC comes in 4-1 over its last five, scoring 127 a night and allowing 117, shooting 53 percent and 45 from three, 20 free throws a game; Gilgeous-Alexander at 34 and Jal. Williams at 20 a game. It has lost the glass by 4 a night. One day's rest.
So: OKC wins, on the road, and the game turns on the arc, OKC at 45 percent from three to Brooklyn's 27 and the glass, where Brooklyn has been plus-2 a night and OKC minus-4. Call it OKC 120, Brooklyn 114.
Who is who
the initials in the Players column
BKNCJ C. Johnson
CT C. Thomas
DF D. Finney-Smith
DS D. Sharpe
DS D. Smith Jr.
MB M. Bridges
NC N. Claxton
RO R. O'Neale
SD S. Dinwiddie
WASBC B. Coulibaly
CK C. Kispert
DA D. Avdija
DG D. Gafford
DW D. Wright
JP J. Poole
KK K. Kuzma
LS L. Shamet
MM M. Muscala
TJ T. Jones
BKN/WAS 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
Avdija, Kuzma lead Wizards to 110-104 victory over the Nets
WASHINGTON -- — Kyle Kuzma scored 26 points, Deni Avdija had 21 points, 13 rebounds and six assists, and the Washington Wizards beat the Brooklyn Nets 110-104 on Friday night.
Kuzma checked back into the game with Brooklyn leading 98-97 and scored nine of Washington’s next 11, with fans at Capital One Arena come to a standing ovation as the Wizards dribbled the ball out on a rare home win.
“That’s how I want to play,” Kuzma said. “When you think about the top options on every team, that’s how they play. I don’t necessarily have the opportunity to do that.”
Tyus Jones added 12 points for the Wizards, who snapped a three-game losing streak. Outside of recent back-to-back victories over the Detroit Pistons , who have currently matched the worst losing streak in NBA history, Brooklyn has lost seven in a row.
Mike Muscala nailed a 3-pointer to start the fourth quarter for Washington to retake the lead at 87-86. Muscala finished with 11 points off the bench in a game that had 13 lead changes and eight ties. The Wizards could never get too comfortable, leading by no more than seven.
“The atmosphere was great. Friday night, fans showed out,” Avdija said. “Honestly, I asked Corey (Kispert) in the locker room if it felt like a playoff game to him because of the intensity of the game, good crowd. It was really fun to play today and I think we got going. Certain units got going. Everybody participated tonight, which was big time for us.”
Spencer Dinwiddie had 17 points, eight rebounds, and six assists for the Nets, and Mikal Bridges scored 19 points. Nic Claxton had 11 points and 12 rebounds, and Cam Johnson finished with 16 points.
After a back-and-forth first quarter, with seven lead changes and three ties, the game was knotted at 25.
The Wizards would jump out to a few leads in the second quarter before Brooklyn went up 47-46 with 3:31 remaining. It was part of a 13-2 run before Avdija nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wizards a 54-53 lead going into the locker room.
Cam Thomas came off the bench to score 15 points for Brooklyn, while Day’Ron Sharpe added 10 points and nine rebounds.
“There were so many stretches through the course of the game where I don’t think we took advantage of opportunities that we had, whether that was finishing quarters the correct way, whether that was just throwing simple passes instead of elaborate passes and complicating things,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “And so when you don’t take advantage of each possession, you put yourself in a position where it’s a little bit more pressure and stress on you in the fourth quarter.”
Trailing by one, the Nets started the second half on an 8-0 run. Brooklyn had an 86-84 lead after Kispert hit a 3-pointer with a second remaining in the third quarter. Kispert finished with 11 points.
Danilo Gallinari missed the game for the Wizards with back spasms.
“He’s still not quite right,” Washington coach Wes Unseld Jr. said before the game. “With back spasms, sometimes it takes a little bit to calm down. He just tweaked it on an errant pass – tried to reach it and tweaked it. We’ll give it another day and see how he responds.”