Wizards-Nets Recap

Tonight in front of 13,712 at the Verizon Center, the Wizards knocked off the New Jersey Nets, 104-89. In the win the Wizards received double-digit scoring performances from all five starters with Caron Butler leading the way with 28 points. While the Wizards received strong contributions from the entire team, the story of the game was the Wizards aggressiveness in the 2nd half that led to the Wizards outscoring the Nets by 21 points over the final 24 minutes of the game.

"We had a terrific second half," said Head Coach Eddie Jordan. "Most of it was just hard work and a gut check at halftime. We made a second effort and played good smart basketball. Roger Mason Jr. and Darius Songaila really helped us in the second half... Those two coming off the bench helped us a great deal and Caron (Butler) bumped it up another notch. It was good, smart, sound hard-working basketball."

The Wizards started the game firing on all cylinders, making their first eight shot attempts and building a 10 point lead midway through the 1st quarter. Leading the charge for the Wizards were Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood who each scored 8 first quarter points. However, the Nets would make a run towards the end of the first quarter and cut the Wizards lead to 27-23 after one quarter of play.

New Jersey would continue to build off of the momentum of the first quarter until Antawn Jamison turned the tide for the Wizards, connecting on his first four point play of the year. The basket would spark an 8-0 Wizards run and would help cut the Nets lead to just 48-42 as the game went into halftime.

Following intermission the Wizards would turn up the intensity and took a 64-63 lead after a thunderous one hand slam by DeShawn Stevenson over Richard Jefferson.

"I think that was the key," said Caron Butler. "We got stops and once DeShawn got that major dunk the team fed off that energy. It was kid's night and you could hear them make noise and we just fed off that."

Following that dunk the Wizards would take advantage by attacking the Nets and getting to the free throw line, connecting on 17 of 18 FT's in the third quarter. Leading the way were Stevenson and Antonio Daniels, as the starting backcourt combined for 17 of the Wizards 36 3rd quarter points in leading the Wizards to a six point advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

In the fourth quarter the Wizards would put the game on ice, extending their lead to as many as 18 with Caron Butler scoring 12 in the quarter.

"I think we understand more and more who we are and how to win games," said Jordan. "The coaches try to communicate to the team that we need to work hard and stay organized. That is what we did and I think we were able to accomplish this in the second half."

Unfortunately for the Wizards there was some bad news, as late in the fourth quarter Darius Songaila suffered a left ankle sprain.

Following tonight's win the Wizards will have tomorrow off before they finish their five game homestand against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Tuesday night at 7:00pm.