Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch in visit to Washington
By Phil Watson
The Brooklyn Nets and Washington Wizards meet at Capital One Arena going in opposite directions. The Nets have lost 3 in a row, the Wiz have 3 straight wins.
When the Brooklyn Nets face the Washington Wizards Friday night at Capital One Arena in Washington, they will be looking to prevent a season-worst fourth consecutive loss. The Wizards, on the other hand, will be looking to extend their best run of the season to four straight wins.
The Nets (6-9) have been in a rough patch the last three games, allowing 120 points in each of their last two games and taking lopsided losses in two of the three games they have lost consecutively.
Washington (5-9) has at least shown some signs of life of late after losing nine of its first 11 games. After shooting just 44.6 percent in their first 11 games, the Wizards have hit 48.8 percent in their last three, wins at Miami and at home over Orlando and Cleveland.
The Wizards have also shown some fight at the defensive end, allowing 104.7 points per game during their winning streak after being shredded for 119.1 a night during their first 11 contests.
The Nets are still adjusting to life without leading scorer Caris LeVert, out indefinitely after dislocating his right foot, and they have played the last two games without Jarrett Allen, who has been out with an illness.
On Thursday, the Nets reported that Allen is questionable for Friday night, as is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who sprained his right ankle just before halftime in Wednesday’s game. He returned to play the second half, but as sprained ankles are wont to do, it likely swelled overnight.
Jarrett Allen (illness) and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle) are questionable. #nets @NYPost_Lewis
— Zach Braziller (@NYPost_Brazille) November 15, 2018
The most notable changes for Washington during their streak has been the play of Jeff Green and Austin Rivers.
Green is averaging 15.0 points and 6.3 rebounds per game while shooting 65.4 percent overall and going 7-of-12 from 3-point range. Prior to that, he was at 9.8 points and 4.6 rebounds on 45.7 percent shooting overall and 22.2 percent from deep.
Rivers averaged 6.1 points in 23.0 minutes per game in Washington’s first 11 games, shooting 39.3 percent overall and 34.3 percent from long range. In the last three games, Rivers has put up 12 points per game while shooting 48.1 percent overall.
Here are three things to watch as the Nets battle the Wizards at 7 p.m. Eastern Friday.