Brooklyn Nets
(Photo by Abbie Parr/Getty Images)

The Brooklyn Nets snapped a four-game losing streak with a 35-point win over the Washington Wizards.

  • Brooklyn Nets (12-19)
  • Washington Wizards (17-15)
  • Barclays Center: Brooklyn, New York
  • NBA Final Box Score

The young Brooklyn Nets finally received the break they needed Friday night as well as the “it factor” coach Kenny Atkinson has been talking about. In a wire-to-wire win over the Washington Wizards, Brooklyn did it all.

Forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led the way with 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. It’s his fourth double-double in December while matching his career-high in assists.

Newcomer Nik Stauskas scored 15 points on four shots from deep in just 15 minutes for Brooklyn. He’s shooting 53 percent from deep in five games with the Nets.

Point guard Spencer Dinwiddie continues to thrive in his role as a starter, and led the Nets with 14 straight points to open the second half. He finished the night on 71 percent shooting.

Brooklyn out rebounded Washington for a season-high 60 rebounds, recorded a season-high with 29 assists, and held their opponent to a season-low 84 points.

What was working for them?

Head coach Kenny Atkinson told the New York Post it was the team’s defense.

“Our mindset from the tipoff was good. I thought that first group really decided to get some stops and brought the energy and brought the defense,” Atkinson said. “Then after that, everybody got on the train, got on board and a lot of guys played well.”

The Wizards are a contending team in the Eastern Conference, making this win all the more impressive for the young Nets. Despite John Wall playing only 16 minutes, Joe Harris says this win left the whole team satisfied.

“Washington is a great team, especially with John Wall back. So for us to come out and play the way we did — a full four quarters — we’re happy about it.”

For Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who led the Nets in scoring, says it was all about staying focused.

“We were competitive. We locked in,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “It comes down to compete level.“One moment can change the outcome. One mistake you can go from down three to down 10. We stayed focused on each moment.”

Though “We want Okafor” chants broke out as the Nets got up 30 on the Wizards, he remained on the bench for a third-straight game. Atkinson claimed there is a plan in place, and he’d rather not disturb it, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post.

“Yeah, I heard it, and I respect the fans and I understand they want to see him,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said of the chants. “I think we’ve stated from the beginning there’s a plan for him. We’re going to stick with the plan. It was tempting, but again I think we want to put him in the best position to succeed. So we’re going to stick with the plan. I think that’s a little more down the line.”

Still a young team, Brooklyn continues to surprise us in the best of ways. They now hold a 2-0 series lead over the Washington Wizards.


There is no more appropriate way to prepare for a five-game road trip then blowing out one of the best team’s in the East by 30+ points.

Brooklyn travels to Indiana where they will be hosted by the Pacers later tonight. Tip-off is at 7:00 p.m. ET.

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