Things got ugly in the second half for the Wiz.
The Washington Wizards’ penultimate preseason game Monday was definitely one to forget. The good guys got crushed by the Brooklyn Nets in a 131-92 affair at Barclays Center.
The Wizards kept things interesting early with neither team leading by more than 10 points in the opening half. Jordan Poole led Washington in first-half scoring with 11 points on 4/8 shooting, while Corey Kispert had nine points with two threes.
Kispert’s second triple of the game with 5:11 left in the second gave the Wizards a 43-37 lead — their largest of the game. But it was all downhill from there as the Nets closed the half on an 18-3 run to lead 55-46 at the break.
The game completely unraveled for the Wizards in the second half as turnovers prevented the team from ever mounting a comeback. Brooklyn had a +13 turnover advantage over Washington in the contest. The Nets outscored the Wizards by 30 in the second half and led by as many as 43 points as the home team cruised to their first preseason win.
Poole led the Wizards with 13 points and three rebounds. Veterans Marvin Bagley, Richaun Holmes, and Jared Butler each tallied 10 points.
Rookies Bub Carrington and Kyshawn George each had a few moments in the contest. George, in particular, showed flashes of his defensive potential as a lengthy ballhawk on the wing. Carrington finished with eight points and five rebounds, while George had four points, two assists, and a block.
The Wizards close out their preseason on Friday against the New York Knicks.