Nets vs. Wizards preview: Friday night in DC

The Brooklyn Nets look to get back in the winner’s circle against the Washington Wizards.

Summarized by AI ⓘ

What is the story about?

2026 is here and the Brooklyn Nets are looking to get back in the winner’s circle. They were shorthanded in last night’s matchup against the Houston Rockets and old friend Kevin Durant, and predictably got demolished by 24 points. It was their worst loss in a while, but fortunately they’re right back on the court so they can wash that L away.

The opponent tonight is looking ahead to its future. The Washington Wizards beat the Milwaukee Bucks on New Year’s Eve. Tonight is the first night of a three

game homestand that will also see them take on the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic.

Where to follow the game

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Tip after 7 PM.

Injuries

The Brooklyn Nets were without Michael Porter Jr, Egor Dёmin, and Terrance Mann last night. We’ll see if they’re available tonight. Night two of a back-to-back so we’ll see if anyone else sits.

No Cam Whitmore, Kyshawn George, or Corey Kispert.

The game

Brooklyn won the first meeting in November.

The Wizards are in an interesting spot. Their pick is top eight protected, and if the team is too “good,” that pick goes to the New York Knicks. Naturally, there’s concern that another team will cash in on your misery, but as Greg Finberg of Bullets Forever notes, there’s still plenty to gain from the team’s recent success:

“I understand the logic behind the concerns of those worried fans. In a year equipped with what is considered the best draft class in decades, the Wizards need to keep their pick. But should they do so at the expense of developing their young core and teaching them how to win? I don’t think so, especially when these wins have the team nowhere close to climbing out of the league’s bottom four.“

That’s the tough question a lot of rebuilding teams always have to answer. You want to make sure you have the best draft position imaginable, but you want to instill good habits in your youngsters early so that when you’re back in contention, they’re ready to hit the ground running.

Cam Thomas is back, and it looks like the Nets will have him come off the bench as he regains his rhythm. Naturally Thomas wants to start and contribute, but for now being the super scorer off the bench will help him get back to speed. Jordi Fernandez is still seeking better defense and playmaking from the young guard, so he’s still got a ways to go before he’s where the team wants him to be.

We mentioned the Wizards’ young talent earlier, and they’ve quietly been putting a good group together. With Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson, and Bub Carrington, they’ve got a promising young nucleus developing. One more good pick, and maybe they’ll be back in business sooner than we know it.

Player to watch: Alexandre Sarr

The Wizards have some building blocks, and Sarr is one of the biggest. The second year center has been much improved compared to his rookie year and has seen his numbers increase across the board. He’s finishing a lot better at the rim and has cut down on his three point attempts as the Wizards have found him a lot more shots on the inside. Sarr is second in the NBA in blocks per game, so it will take a great effort by the Nets on the inside if they want to have success in the paint.

Nic Claxton will be tasked with battling Sarr on the inside. The Rockets dominated the boards last night even as they were shorthanded. The Wizards have been one of the weaker rebounding teams in the league this season, so the Nets hope Clax and Day’ron Sharpe can control the interior and help the team get out on the run going the other way. Although it’s the second leg of a back-2-back, the travel was relatively short compared to other b2bs. We’ll see if that helps the Nets find some extra energy late if this game is close.