Nets make plays down the stretch to stop Wizards

Field Level Media|published: Sun 12th November, 17:47 2023

Nov 12, 2023; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith (28) dribbles against Washington Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) during the half quarter at Barclays Center. credits: Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports

Mikal Bridges shook off a difficult shooting performance to score six of his 27 points in the final 2 1/2 minutes as the Brooklyn Nets made plays down the stretch in a 102-94 victory over the Washington Wizards Sunday in New York.

Bridges shot 11-of-29 and missed 12 of 14 3-point tries but helped Brooklyn end the game on a 15-2 run over the final 4:08.

The Wizards gradually chipped away at a 17-point deficit and took a 92-87 lead on a Kyle Kuzma layup. Cameron Johnson started the comeback with a 3-pointer a minute later, and Bridges added five straight points.

After intercepting Jordan Poole's pass, Bridges hit a tying layup with 2:26 left and split two free throws 23 seconds later. Following another Poole turnover, Bridges sank a 9-foot fadeaway for a 95-92 lead with 88 seconds left.

Cameron Johnson added 14 points, including a basket that gave the Nets a five-point lead.

Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in 12 while Royce O'Neale finished with 10. Nic Claxton collected 10 points and 13 rebounds after missing eight games with an ankle injury as the Nets survived shooting 37.8 percent and missing 37 of 49 3-point tries.

Rookie Bilal Coulibaly, a teammate of Victor Wembanyama in France, led the Wizards with a career-high 20 points, including a 3-pointer that gave Washington its first lead at 85-82 with 6:44 left.

Kyle Kuzma added 15 but shot 4-of-16. Deni Avdija added 14 and Poole had 12, but the Wizards shot 37.5 percent and missed 31 of 41 3-point attempts.

Bridges scored 12 points — all on shots inside the arc — as the Nets survived shooting 3-of-17 from 3, 40 percent and held a 30-15 lead through the opening quarter.

Washington began heating up and outscored the Nets 17-7 over the first five-plus minutes of the second to get within 37-32 on a jumper by Shamet. The Nets regained their footing and held a 49-41 lead by halftime.

The Nets continued to let Washington hang around and Shamet's 3 cut the lead to 68-67 with 2:31 remaining. Brooklyn inched ahead to a 78-72 lead into the fourth after Walker hit a 3 in the final minute.

—Field Level Media

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