Final week, the networks had been a reminder of the unpredictability of the NBA.
They beat top-of-the-line groups within the league, the rockets, not as soon as, however twice. With out Kam Johnson, no much less.
Then, after he returned, they had been humiliated by the oldest staff within the basketball.
February 5, 2025 Jason Schenes for New York Submit
The nets underwent 119-102 route within the fingers of the wizards who inhabited the basement earlier than a crowd of 16,035 at Barclays Middle on Wednesday night time.
The proankers within the crowd had been definitely proud of this one.
The nets clicked the very best profitable collection of three video games and threw away what needed to be a reasonably straightforward victory towards the fearsome wizards (9-41).
After solely 5 in the course of the third quarter, the networks retreated an prolonged 21-3 run, which prolonged into the fourth.
That is towards a Washington staff that traded Kyle Kuzma and Jonas Valancinas on Wednesday, however didn’t have his All-Star Khris Middleton and Sidy Cissoko-Lo-Jew in Barclays Middle.
In brief, it was a shock.
Kon Johnson led the nets with the best 25 factors and 6 rebounds, however they allowed 54.3 % firing and 20 of 43 behind the arc in gloomy protection efforts.
The networks allowed wizards to scale back their safety. Washington has distributed 40 assists, with Bilal Kulibali publishing a triple-soul (11 factors, 11 assists and 10 rebounds).
Johnson (ankle) and Day’ron Sharpe (Himstring) performed, though they had been associated to commerce rumors, which reveals that they most likely will not go anyplace with the deadline at 15:00 Thursday.
Sharp scored a kind of pulling the nets inside 75-70 with 5:32 remaining within the third quarter. However the networks then gave up 21-3 blitz. Bub Carrington restricted operating with a 3-indicator that left the nets in a gap 96-73 with 10:17 to play.
Johnson completed with 17, however the networks left with a complete 25 factors and by no means made a run.
