The Washington Wizards took down the Brooklyn Nets 120-111 in a game that would make the Harlem Globetrotters proud. Seven Wizards players scored in double figures led by Ramon Sessions who notched another double-double with 21 points and 12 assists.
In the most meaningless game of the year, the Wizards opened up 9-9 from the field on a 20-0 run forcing the Nets to burn two early timeouts. The Nets didn't score their first bucket of the game until the 7:30 mark.
But as we've become accustomed to, the Nets were able to chip away at the lead and trailed by just six at the end of the quarter, even though the Wizards shot 68 percent from the field.
The Nets took the lead for the first time midway through the second quarter on a Wayne Ellington dunk, and from that point on, it was a back-and-forth affair.
Kelly Oubre Jr. made his mark in the first half with 14 points and this buzzer-beating heave:
Kelly Oubre beats the buzzer in Brooklyn! #NBAVine https://t.co/32jteUSGcb
— NBA (@NBA) April 12, 2016
The pickup basketball game resumed in third quarter as the two teams exchanged defensive efforts that would make James Harden proud. The Wizards would use a 9-0 run to take a 100-98 going into the third quarter.
For as entertaining as the first three quarters were, the fourth quarter was a bit of a letdown. The Wizards clamped down on defense (kinda) holding the Nets to just 13 points as they pulled away to win 120-111.
Defense? In a game featuring two teams eliminated from the playoffs, saying defense was optional would be an understatement. The Wizards led 70-69 at halftime on 60 percent shooting. The Nets weren't so bad themselves shooting 50 percent from the field in the first half. The scoring carried over into the second half as the Wizards outscored the Nets 30-29 in the third quarter and would lead, 100-98 after three quarters.
The teams combined for an absurd 112 points in the paint (Washington - 58, Brooklyn - 54).
Bench Love: With many key players sitting this one out, Wittman gave his bench extended minutes. The new Big 3 in town: Oubre, Eddie, and Hickson took full advantage as the trio combined for 36 points including a couple of highlight reel dunks from J.J. Hickson
This is what happens when the Nets decide not to play defense. (via @NBA) https://t.co/9L4swVpqM6 https://t.co/fuIihtuNcv
— SB Nation NBA (@SBNationNBA) April 12, 2016
and Kelly Oubre:
Yea, John Wall couldn't have used this at all this year. #Shhh https://t.co/cCsbr5VIh5
— Hoop District (@HoopDistrictDC) April 12, 2016
The Wizards close out the season against Atlanta on Wednesday night.