The Brooklyn Nets (3-0) had been playing well throughout the preseason as they have been able to see forwards Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle play well together so early in their partnership. Brooklyn had a tough task to begin the week as they visited Trae Young and the Washington Wizards (2-1) on Monday, but the Nets were able to come out on top after a breakthrough third quarter.
The Nets beat the Wizards 131-122 on Monday thanks to Porter leading the Nets in scoring with 22 points and four rebounds while guard Nolan Traore came off the bench to drop 17 points and two assists. Randle finished the contest with a near double-double as he had 14 points and nine assists and he was a big part of Brooklyn holding Washington to just 22 points in the third
period.
Kyshawn George led the Wizards in scoring with 21 points and four assists while forward Bilal Coulibaly came off the bench to drop 19 points and three steals to keep Washington in it for as long as possible. Forward AJ Dybantsa, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, had 14 points and four rebounds while Young had 11 points and 11 assists in his 28 minutes.
Here are three Nets takeaways from Monday's preseason win over the Wizards:
Michael Porter Jr. Could Be Poised For An Even Better Season
Porter missed Brooklyn's win over the Philadelphia 76ers last week due to left wrist soreness, but it looked like he wasn't struggling with that ailment against the Wizards. While Porter had by far the best season of his career last year, he looks like a more aggressive version of himself during this preseason, almost like he's looking to prove that he is an All-Star.
Nolan Traore Looks Ready To Be An Impactful Point Guard
Traore's place within head coach Jordi Fernandez's rotation remains to be seen as the preseason is allowing the Nets to put forth different lineups and combinations, but the second-year guard has been ready to go from the start. Traore spent the offseason rehabbing from a right knee scope while also working on his body in the weight room and it seems like he could be more productive than he was last season as a rookie.
Julius Randle Could Be The Best Passer On The Team
One of the aspects of Randle's game that makes him unique when compared to other big men is his ability to make plays while boasting a 6-foot-9, 250-pound frame that he isn't afraid to use on nearly every play. Randle will likely fulfill his role as the other scorer alongside Porter, but the fact that the former Minnesota Timberwolves forward had 14 points and nine assists in just 23 minutes shows how much impact he can have within this offense.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 3 Nets takeaways from 131-122 preseason win over AJ Dybantsa, Wizards
