2026 is here and the Brooklyn Nets are looking to get back into the winner’s circle. They were shorthanded in last night’s game against the Houston Rockets and their old friend Kevin Durant, and as expected, they were demolished by 24 points. It was their worst loss in a while, but luckily they’re back on the field so they can erase that L.
Tonight’s opponent is looking towards his future. The Washington Wizards defeated the Milwaukee Bucks on New Year’s Eve. Tonight is the first night of a three-game homestand that will also see them face the Minnesota Timberwolves and Orlando Magic.
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The Brooklyn Nets were without Michael Porter Jr, Egor Dömin and Terrance Mann last night. Dёmin is ready to go as is Terrance Mann. The following came out:
- Nicholas Claxton
- Michael Porter Jr.
- Cam Thomas
- Haywood Highsmith
No Cam Whitmore, Kyshawn George or Corey Kispert for the Wizards.
Brooklyn won the first meeting in November.
The Wizards are in an interesting position. Their pick is protected in the top eight, and if the team is too “good,” that pick goes to the New York Knicks. Naturally, there’s concern that another team will profit from your misery, but like Greg Finberg of Bullets forever Note, there is still much to be gained from the team’s recent success:
“I understand the logic behind the concerns of these concerned fans. In a year featuring what is considered the best draft class in decades, the Wizards should 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 put the team far out of the bottom four in the league.”
That’s the tough question that many 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 appears the Nets will have him coming off the bench as he finds his rhythm. Naturally, Thomas wants to start and contribute, but for now, being the super scorer off the bench will help him get back up to speed. Jordi Fernandez is still looking for better defense and play from the young guard, so he still has a way to go before he is where the team wants him to be.
We mentioned the Wizards’ young talent earlier, and they’ve quietly put together a good group. With Bilal Coulibaly, Tre Johnson and Bub Carrington, they have a promising young core that is developing. Another good choice, and maybe they’ll be back in business sooner than we think.
Player to watch: Alexandre Sarr
The Wizards have a few building blocks, and Sarr is one of the most important. The second-year center was much improved from his rookie year and saw his numbers increase across the board. He finishes much better at the rim and has cut down on his three-point attempts as the Wizards have found him a lot more shots inside. Sarr is second in the NBA in blocks per game, so it will take a big effort from the Nets inside if they want to succeed in the paint.
Nic Claxton will be tasked with fighting Sarr on the inside. The Rockets dominated the boards last night even though they were shorthanded. The Wizards have been one of the weakest rebounding teams in the league this season, so the Nets are hoping Clax and Day’ron Sharpe can control the interior and help the team run away in the other direction. Although it was the second leg of a back-2-back, the journey was relatively short compared to other b2bs. We’ll see if this helps the Nets find some extra energy late if this game is close.
Those up for Isiah Whitlock Jr.
