The Nets’ previous week is a reminder of the NBA’s unpredictability.
They beat one of many league’s finest groups, the Rockets, not as soon as however twice. With out Cam Johnson, no much less.
Then after he returned, they bought humiliated by the worst staff in basketball.
Feb. 5, 2025. Jason Szenes for New York Put up
The Nets suffered a 119-102 rout by the hands of the cellar-dwelling Wizards earlier than a crowd of 16,035 at Barclays Heart on Wednesday evening.
The professional-tankers within the crowd had been absolutely completely satisfied about this one.
The Nets snapped a season-best three-game successful streak, and threw away what ought to’ve been a reasonably simple victory in opposition to the woeful Wizards (9-41).
Trailing by simply 5 roughly halfway by the third quarter, the Nets conceded an prolonged 21-3 run that spanned into the fourth.
This in opposition to a Washington staff that had traded away Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valanciunas on Wednesday, however didn’t have their replacements — All-Star ahead Khris Middleton and Sidy Cissoko — swimsuit up at Barclays Heart.
Briefly, it was a shocker.
Keon Johnson led the Nets with a game-high 25 factors and 6 rebounds, however they allowed 54.3 % capturing and 20 of 43 from behind the arc in a dismal defensive effort.
The Nets allowed the Wizards to slice up their protection. Washington handed out 40 assists, with Bilal Coulibaly posting a triple-double (11 factors, 11 assists and 10 rebounds).
Johnson (ankle) and Day’Ron Sharpe (hamstring) each performed regardless of being linked in commerce rumors, indicating they’re not going going anyplace with the deadline at 3 p.m. Thursday.
Sharpe scored a layup to drag the Nets inside 75-70 with 5:32 left within the third quarter. However the Nets then gave up a 21-3 blitz. Bub Carrington capped the run with a 3-pointer that left the Nets in a 96-73 gap with 10:17 to play.
Johnson completed with 17, however the Nets trailed by as many as 25 factors and by no means made a run.