Washington Wizards vs Brooklyn Nets
PREVIEW: The Washington Wizards begin a three-game homestand against the Brooklyn Nets on Friday at Capital One Arena, marking the second of four meetings between these division rivals this season with the Nets leading the series 1-0. Despite a strong December showing, Brooklyn remains stuck in the Eastern Conference basement at 13th place with a 10-21 record, while Washington sits one position lower at 8-24. The Wizards enter this matchup as the league's worst defensive unit, allowing a 121.7 defensive rating, which could spell trouble against a Nets squad featuring multiple scoring threats. Unfortunately, detailed ShotQuality data remains unavailable for both teams heading into this contest, limiting our ability to assess their shot selection efficiency.
Both clubs have found recent traction, with the Nets winning four of seven while looking to bounce back from a lopsided loss to Houston, and the Wizards riding high after a thrilling one-point victory over Milwaukee. Brooklyn's offensive depth has proven particularly dangerous lately, with their frontcourt duo of Nic Claxton and Noah Clowney stepping up to complement their star wings. Washington's resilience was on full display against the Bucks, with Alex Sarr delivering a strong all-around performance while CJ McCollum drained the game-winner with just 1.2 seconds remaining. The contest tips off Friday at 7 p.m. ET, setting the stage for an intriguing matchup between two teams searching for consistency.