Game Preview: Washington Wizards vs Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets (15-16, 4th Atlantic) pay a visit to Capital One Arena in the nation’s capital on Friday to play the Washington Wizards (5-25, 5th Southeast). Brooklyn was defeated by the Milwaukee Bucks 144-122 on Wednesday night snapping a two-game winning streak, although Brooklyn has lost six of its last eight. Washington was defeated by the Toronto Raptors 132-102 on Wednesday night and the Wizards have lost three straight and five of the last six.

Brooklyn is scoring well, but needs to play better defense

The Brooklyn Nets are scoring an average of 116.2 (12th) points per game while shooting 46.8% (20th) overall and 38.1% (6th) from downtown. Brooklyn is shooting 76.9% from the free throw line which is just 21st. Cam Thomas is scoring a team high 22.8 points per game while shooting 45.3% and Mikal Bridges is the second leading scorer with an average of 21.1 points per game and shoots 46% overall. Spencer Dinwiddie is handing out a team best 6.6 assists per game. Brooklyn has an assist to turnover ratio of 2.2 which is 7th in the NBA.

Brooklyn is allowing an average of 116.3 (20th) points per game while opponents are shooting 46.4% (13th) overall and 37.5% (19th) from 3-point territory. Brooklyn is averaging 12.5 offensive and 34.1 defensive rebounds per game for a total of 46.6 led by Nic Claxton with an average of 9.5 boards per game but Claxton is questionable for Friday. Claxton is Brooklyn’s rim protector with an average of 2.5 blocked shots per game while Bridges is the the leader in steals with an average of 0.9 per contest.

Washington scores its share but has the NBA’s worst defense

The Washington Wizards are scoring an average of 116.6 (10th) points per game while shooting 48.3% (8th) overall and 35.5% (22nd) from three point land. Washington is hitting 77.5% of its free throws which is 19th. Kyle Kuzma is the leading scorer for Washington with an average of 22.5 points per game while shooting 46.3% and Jordan Poole is the second leading scorer with an average of 17.8 points per game. The leader in assists is Tyus Jones with an average of 5.4 per game. The Wizards have an assist to turnover ratio of 2.0, which is 13th.

The Washington defense disappears at times as the Wizards are allowing an average of 126.8 (30th) points per game which is last in the NBA, while opponents are shooting 50.3% (29th) overall which is next to last and 37.6% from three-point territory which is 21st. Washington is averaging 8.3 offensive and 31.0 defensive rebounds per game for a total of 39.3 led by Daniel Gafford with an average of 7.7 boards per game. Gafford is the rim protector with an average of 2.2 blocked shots per game while Jones is the leader in steals with an average of 1.2 per contest.

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