Nets go wire-to-wire in blowout of Wizards

A+

Final: 12/22/2017

W 119 84

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Photo courtesy YES Network

The Nets like playing the Wizards.

Prior to Brooklyn’s four-game skid, the team’s last win was over the Wizards on Dec. 12. Now, the Nets beat the Wizards again Friday to end that skid, this time with a dominating 119-84 victory. Yes, that is a 35-point differential.

In the win, the Nets improve to 12-19 on the season.

While Brooklyn never trailed in the game and held a 10-point lead at halftime, all the action came in the third quarter. Spencer Dinwiddie went on a personal 11-point run and finished with four three-pointers in the quarter. Entering the quarter with zero points, he went on to drop 15 points in the third on 4-of-5 shooting from downtown.

The whole team played with a lot heart against what could have been a difficult Wizards team. John Wall and Bradley Beal instead combined for 6-of-26 shooting from the field, good for 14 points. 

Before the third quarter ended, the Nets brought up the lead to 30 points, good for a season-high. By the end of the game, the Nets led by as many as 40 (!) points, with six Nets reaching double digits. 

After outscoring the Wizards 35-18 in the third quarter, Brooklyn went on to put up a 31-23 advantage in the fourth. Nik Stauskas could not miss from three (he made four of them in 15 minutes), which always helps.

By that time, the game was a blowout, but it was a welcomed change of pace for Brooklyn.

The offense was really working, with the Nets scoring 119 points scored on 50 (!) percent shooting, but there was also not a shortage of highlights. According to Ian Eagle, Brooklyn had six dunks on the night. One of the most fun stretches occurred when Tyler Zeller and Joe Harris had back-to-back dunks with explosiveness you would not expect from the two.

It was that kind of night for Brooklyn.

The Nets will now try and carry that energy over to Saturday as they take on the Pacers in the second half of a back-to-back. You almost wish the Nets saved some points for tomorrow’s game, but beggars can’t be choosers, right?

After four losses, this was a feel-good win for Brooklyn where the Nets flat-out dominated. Live it up (while you can), Nets fans! 

Spencer Dinwiddie

A

The stats: 15 PTS, 5-7 FG, 4-5 3FG, 1-1 FT, 2 REB, 4 AST, 3 ROV, 1 STL, 1 BLK, 22 MIN

Third-quarter man Spencer Dinwiddie was en fuego against the Wizards. All of his damage came in the third quarter, scoring 15 points on 4-of-5 shooting from three. He paced Brooklyn’s starting lineup that excelled tonight and powered his team to a confident win. 

You do you, Spencer. 

Allen Crabbe

A-

The stats: 7 PTS, 3-8 FG, 1-5 3FG, 8 REB, 2 AST, 33 MIN

Not his best offensive performance, but Crabbe got some shots to go down and was active on the boards. Brooklyn out-rebounded the Wizards 60-35 (!), and Crabbe was a part of that.

Crabbe spent the most time on the court out of all his teammates, and he helped the lineups keep the production going. He’s on his way to getting his groove back. 

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

A

The stats: 21 PTS, 7-15 FG, 0-1 3FG, 7-9 FT, 11 REB, 6 AST, 2 TOV, 1 BLK, 24 MIN

Wow, Rondae. RHJ nearly put up a triple-double tonight (in 24 minutes, man), and he’s a lot of fun to watch. It’s great to see his transformation this season to an aggressive player on offense.

RHJ’s performance against the Wizards was the first game of his career with 20+ points, 10+ rebounds and 5+ assists, according to YES Network. He had a pretty good dunk, too.

We bow down to you, Rondae.

DeMarre Carroll

B+

The stats: 15 PTS, 5-11 FG, 2-7 3FG, 3-3 FT, 6 REB, 4 AST, 1 STL, 23 MIN

DeMarre Carroll was another Net with a strong all-around game. He worked so well in the starting lineup and set some of his teammates up as well.

The vet also brought the toughness on the defensive end and gave the Nets the energy they needed. 

Carroll is fun to watch, and we’re always here for it.