The Brooklyn Nets encountered their third consecutive defeat on Friday evening, succumbing to the Washington Wizards 119-99. This loss, which occurred on the latter end of back-to-back games, left the Nets with a 10-22 record as they struggled to bounce back after an early setback.
Though Egor Dëmin was available and Terance Mann, listed as probable, took to the court, the Nets were without key players Cam Thomas (injury management), Nic Claxton (personal reasons), and Michael Porter Jr. (illness). The Wizards arrived in fine form, having secured victory in five of their last nine matchups.
The absence of several starters forced Brooklyn to alter their strategy. With Claxton missing his first game this season, Day’Ron Sharpe stepped into the starting lineup. Additionally, rookie Danny Wolf was called upon to fill minutes at center, offering yet another lineup variation for a Nets squad still seeking consistent synergy. Unfortunately, the initial outcomes were less than promising.
The Wizards seized control almost immediately, establishing a 20-12 advantage by exploiting Brooklyn’s defensive lapses through effective ball movement and open looks. Washington’s sharpshooting was evident as they began the night hitting 7 of their first 9 field goals and 3 of 4 from beyond the arc, while the Nets struggled to find their footing.
Offensively, Brooklyn faltered, shooting a mere 34.8% in the first quarter and turning the ball over four times, which allowed Washington to maintain a steady flow. By the quarter’s conclusion, the Wizards had expanded their lead to 37-24, thanks to an 11-2 run in the closing minutes. CJ McCollum led the charge with 10 points, complemented by Justin Champagnie’s seven points on near-perfect shooting, including a buzzer-beating three-pointer that underscored Brooklyn’s early struggles. Nine different Wizards players scored during the quarter, highlighting their offensive cohesion.
Despite trailing by 18 early in the second quarter, head coach Jordi Fernández opted to let his players work through the adversity. The Nets managed to string together defensive stops, while rookies Nolan Traoré and Drake Powell found their groove on offense. A steal and subsequent finish by Traoré narrowed the gap to nine points with 6:26 remaining, prompting a timeout from Washington. However, any momentum gained was short-lived as the Wizards quickly reestablished a 14-point advantage by halftime.
Brooklyn’s inconsistency on both ends through two quarters overshadowed an otherwise stellar first 18 minutes from Sharpe, who scored 12 points on 5-for-9 shooting with six rebounds and a block.
The third quarter wasn’t much better. Washington shot 50% in the period, fueled by a perfect 4-for-4 stint from Champagnie, and outscored Brooklyn 32-23 to carry a 23-point lead into the fourth. The Nets battled to the horn, cutting the deficit to 12 with 4:24 left, but by then the damage was done, and Washington pushed the lead back to 20 for good measure.
Still, four Nets rookies reached double figures, including 14 points from Powell on 5-for-6 shooting and a career-high 12 points and five assists from Traoré. That growth matters, even in a loss like this.
Champagnie led six Wizards in double figures with 20 points and seven rebounds off the bench.
The Nets return to action Sunday against the Denver Nuggets at Barclays Center.
