Debutant Nene spurs Washington Wizards to impressive 108 – 89 win over New Jersey Nets – NBA Recap
The Washington Wizards acquired veteran centre Nene Hilario from the Denver Nuggets at the trade deadline and the player is already paying dividends. On Wednesday Nene led the young Washington outfit to an important win over the New Jersey Nets.
Playing at the Prudential Center, Newark, the Wizards didn’t look at all like the team that has been terrible on the road this NBA season, or a bottom half side that their record suggests. Instead, the Wizards played with poise and more than matched the
more established New Jersey Nets at their turf for a 108 – 89 win.
Nene scored 22 points and had 10 rebounds in an impressive double-double effort to mark his debut for the Washington Wizards. Jordan Crawford scored 23 points, the game high, and John Wall had 12 to go along with 8 assists.
The Nets didn’t have a decent night out at all. They were clearly frustrated and star point guard Deron Williams was ejected from the game after arguing with the officials. Nets coach Avery Johnson followed Williams to the locker room after picking a fight
with the officials as well.
Before his departure from the game, Deron managed 17 points and 4 assists. Kris Humphries had 13 points and 16 rebounds for the Nets and newly acquired forward Gerald Wallace also managed 13.
The Wizards had a spring in their step right from the start of the game. After early exchanges brought the score to 9 – 9, the Wizards had an 8 – 2 sprint, putting them up 17 – 11. They remained ahead for the remainder of the first quarter, ending it at
33 – 25.
New Jersey were much sharper in the second period. They set about to chase down the Wizards and after a gruelling battle levelled the scores at 48 – 48 deep into the frame. Washington though still managed to stay ahead, ending the first half up at 56 – 53.
Things went from bad to worse for New Jersey after the interval. The Wizards kept chipping away, increasing their lead slowly but surely, and the frustration mounted for the Nets, resulting in the ejections.
The game pretty much ceased to be a contest afterwards. The Nets only managed 36 points in the entire second half, against 52 by the Wizards, who ran out comfortable winners at the end, 108 – 89.
The Nets’ troubles notwithstanding, Wizards coach Randy Wittman lavished praise on his side.
"I thought that was probably our most complete game as a team this year. ... Everybody contributed. Sometimes people say the team wins. This truly was a team effort. Everybody that played tonight was positive out there, and that is fun."
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