The Brooklyn Nets didn’t just win on Wednesday night - they announced themselves. Snapping a three-game skid, Brooklyn exploded out of the gate and never looked back (well, almost never), dropping a season-high 80 points in the first half and cruising to a 127-113 win over the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center.
But don’t let that final score fool you - this was a blowout early, with the Nets doing their best impression of a track meet and the Wizards playing catch-up from the opening tip.
Facing a Washington squad missing key young pieces like Alex Sarr, Tre Johnson, and Kyshawn George, Brooklyn came in healthy and hungry - and it showed. The first quarter was a clinic in paint dominance.
The Nets poured in 46 points in the opening frame alone, including a 25-5 run to close out the quarter. By the time the buzzer sounded, Brooklyn had built a 26-point cushion and sent a clear message: the losing streak stops here.
The engine behind that early surge? Interior scoring - and lots of it.
Brooklyn racked up a season-high 66 points in the paint, thanks to the relentless work of bigs Day'Ron Sharpe, Nic Claxton, and rookie Egor Dëmin. Sharpe, in particular, was everywhere.
He finished the night with 19 points on 9-of-11 shooting, adding nine rebounds, four assists, and two steals. It wasn’t just the numbers - it was the energy.
He cleaned up the glass, extended possessions, and anchored the interior defense alongside Claxton, setting the tone on both ends.
That physicality down low opened up the floor for the Nets’ guards to get out and run. Terance Mann didn’t fill up the scoring column (six points), but his five assists and smart decision-making in transition helped keep the offense humming.
Rookie Nolan Traoré continued to flash his potential, scoring 15 points and dishing four assists. He started the game a perfect 6-for-6 from the field and didn’t miss until late in the fourth quarter.
His ability to create off the dribble and finish through contact is quickly becoming a key part of Brooklyn’s offensive identity.
And then there was Michael Porter Jr., who lit it up in the first half with 20 points on 70% shooting. His shot-making gave Brooklyn another layer of firepower, and by halftime, the Nets had built a commanding 80-47 lead. All 10 players who saw the floor for Brooklyn in the first half got on the scoreboard - a testament to the team’s balance and unselfishness.
But as dominant as the first half was, the second half reminded us that no lead is safe in today’s NBA.
The Nets came out of the locker room flat, and the Wizards - behind an inspired Will Riley - took full advantage. Riley, the rookie guard, caught fire and finished with a career-high 27 points, including 14 in the fourth quarter. Washington forced turnovers, tightened up defensively, and capitalized on a few unforced errors by Brooklyn, including a flagrant foul on Noah Clowney that led to a six-point swing midway through the third.
That third quarter saw Washington outscore Brooklyn 35-21, trimming what had been a 34-point deficit down to a more manageable 12 late in the fourth. The Nets’ offense, which had looked so fluid early, suddenly stalled. But when things got tight, Brooklyn found enough answers.
Ben Saraf played with poise, chipping in 10 points, four boards, and four assists. Clowney bounced back from the flagrant with a solid offensive showing (15 points on 5-of-10 shooting), and Danny Wolf quietly delivered one of his most complete games of the season - 16 points, seven rebounds, and six assists, doing a little bit of everything to keep the Nets afloat.
It wasn’t perfect, but it didn’t need to be. Brooklyn built a massive lead, saw it tested, and held on - a win that checks more than one box as they look to regain their footing in the East.
Next up: a Monday night matchup with the retooled Chicago Bulls, who bring their own set of questions and intrigue. But for now, the Nets can breathe a little easier. The losing streak is over, the offense is clicking, and the blueprint for success - paint dominance, ball movement, and energy on both ends - is back on the table.