GAMENIGHT

Brooklyn Nets (29-20) @ Washington Wizards (13-35)

Verizon Center 7:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

The Brooklyn Nets got back into the win column on Wednesday night with a road victory over another sub-.500 team in the Detroit Pistons 93-90.  The game was not pretty in any way but the end result was a much needed victory after a deflating home loss to the LA Lakers.  Tonight’s game at the Washington Wizards is not a “gimme game” anymore and they are playing much better basketball since the return of John Wall.

Brook Lopez came up big with 17 points and big isolation score in the final minute to lead the Nets.  Joe Johnson had 16 points, Gerald Wallace had 14, Deron Williams chipped in 12 points and nine assists while Reggie Evans pulled down 14 rebounds.

Deron Williams assist to Wallace in the win at Detroit was is 5,000 assist and helped him become the third-fastest active player to reach 5,000 assists in only 554 games.

[quote_box]PJ on Deron – “It’s not just in the open floor, it’s not just running the half-court offense. A lot of his assists come from double teams, from post-up positions – it makes him different than some other point guards. You see a lot more different passes from Deron because his skill set and the way he is used in the game.[/quote_box]

The Wizards are 8-7 overall since Wall’s season debut and they look like a different team.  The Wizards are a much different team then they were on January 4th when the Nets won 115- 113 in double overtime to win Andray Blatche’s return to Washington.  Blatche will make his second appearance against his old team after he played well in his return and scored 13 points, grabbed 12 rebounds and picked up 4 steals.

[quote_box]Blatche – The thing is, the booing didn’t affect me at all because I don’t play for them. They’re supposed to boo me, they’re supposed to go against me.[/quote_box]

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Deron Williams vs John Wall

Williams has not shot well in the last three games and is turning the ball over at a high rate which is not what you want to do against Wall.  Wall is one of the speedy and slashing point guards that gives Williams trouble so I would not doubt we will see CJ Watson earlier tonight.  Wall can score in a variety of ways but loves to go to the basket and push the ball at the defense so the Nets will have to be alert in transition if they want to be the giant-killer Wizards.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: Brooklyn is 19-1 against teams with a record below .500 at the time the game was played.  The win would give the Nets a two-game road sweep of the Wizards for the first time since the 2008-09 season.

Nets:

Tornike Shengelia (concussion symptoms) out indefinitely

Jerry Stackhouse (stiff neck) is questionable

Wizards:

Bradley Beal (sprained right wrist) is questionable

Cartier Martin ( hyperextended left knee) is out