Wizards at Nets
The Brooklyn Nets are turning some heads with their play of late, which includes a pair of wins over Eastern Conference contenders during a three-game streak. The Nets will try to push it to four in a row on Friday when they host the slumping Washington Wizards, who dropped their last three games.
Brooklyn sandwiched a win over New York around victories over Toronto and Philadelphia, outlasting the 76ers 127-124 on the road Wednesday to keep the winning streak alive. "We finished the game, we had sound control, we literally played 47 minutes of the game," Nets guard Spencer Dinwiddie, who scored a career-high 39 points, told reporters. "We really finished the game for all intents and purposes except for 50 seconds, which we need to get better at." The Wizards dropped the final two on a four-game road trip before coming home on Wednesday and suffering a 130-125 overtime loss to the Boston Celtics. "We were frustrated. I thought we played hard, hard enough to win, but sometimes those things happen," Washington coach Scott Brooks told reporters. "You got to play through everything and we did our best and we came up a bucket or two short."
TV: 7:30 p.m. ET, NBCS Washington-Plus, YES (Brooklyn)
ABOUT THE WIZARDS (11-17): Washington was whistled for 27 personal fouls on Wednesday, and the Celtics took advantage by going 25-of-25 from the free-throw line. "I kind of think that the end of the fourth quarter, you get so many hand-check calls and put those guys on the free throw line," Wizards point guard John Wall told reporters. "Let guys make plays. I mean, we drive to the basket and get fouled and we not getting it, but a guy gets a little bump and you want to call those type calls. It's not the same. Let us players make those plays at the end of the game." Wall enjoyed one of his best games in the loss, returning from a one-game absence due to a heel injury and collecting 34 points, 13 assists and six rebounds in 41 minutes.
ABOUT THE NETS (11-18): Brooklyn's winning streak is being sparked by Dinwiddie, who is averaging 27 points on 53.8 percent shooting over the last three games. "Spencer got hot," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters of Wednesday's win. "That probably was the big number one thing. ... It's just so evident. You can't take him out, and he's playing great basketball. Obviously, he's our engine right now, especially in the second half." Dinwiddie knocked down 4-of-6 from beyond the arc in the latest victory and attacked the basket, finishing 13-of-14 from the free-throw line.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. Wizards SF Otto Porter Jr. (knee) sat out Wednesday and is questionable for Friday.
2. Brooklyn SF Joe Harris is 8-of-14 from 3-point range in four games since returning from a hip injury.
3. The teams split the first two meetings this season - both in Washington.