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| The Wizards have had the Nets' number this season, winning both meetings already between the two teams. A big reason for that: John Wall, who has turned into one of the NBA's best point guards. |
When: 7:00 PM EST; Saturday, March 15th, 2014
Where: Verizon Center; Washington, D.C.
TV: YES Network
The Nets have dropped their first two meeting with the Washington Wizards thus far in their 2013-14 season, but look to avoid a season series sweep tonight when they face off in our nation's capital for the last time before the Playoffs start up in a month or so.
Brooklyn is just percentage points ahead of Washington for the No. 5 seed in the tight middle-of-the-conference pack in the East, and is two games behind Chicago for the No. 4 seed. The Nets are playing some of their best basketball of the year right now, as they're coming off a big road win against the scuffling Heat on Wednesday night in Miami and have won seven of their last eight games overall, even with Kevin Garnett's extended absence due to back spasms (he's out again tonight).
Meanwhile, the Wizards–a pretty big surprise this season–have lost two of three a few games after putting together a season-high six-game winning streak. Helped by the recent acquisitions of Andre Miller and Drew Gooden, and return of Al Harrington from injury, Randy Wittman's team has been able to go deeper into its bench to find scoring and defense. This has become a necessity since starting center Nene tore a ligament in his left knee back in late February that has already had him miss around three weeks with at least that much more time left before he can possibly return to the starting lineup.
Probable Lineups
BKN- Deron Williams (PG), Shaun Livingston (SG), Joe Johnson (SF), Paul Pierce (PF), Mason Plumlee (C)
WAS- John Wall (PG), Bradley Beal (SG), Trevor Ariza (SF), Trevor Booker (PF), Marcin Gortat (C)
Final Thoughts
Washington is a very athletic and young team, the exact group of players that cause these Nets extreme problems. However, the Miami Heat are built in that vein of basketball team and Brooklyn was able to handle them with relative ease, so maybe tonight's game with the Wizards won't be so unmanageable. The Nets are going to have to defend hard–even with the possibily of AK being out, as he's a gametime decision–and hit their shots if they want to stick with John Wall, Bradley Beal, and the rest of the upstart Wizards.
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