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Sports

Nets seek to stay hot under Carlesimo in clash with Wizards

By Sports Network
Published | Updated

The Brooklyn Nets may want to hold off on their search for a new coach because P.J. Carlesimo seems to be doing just fine in the interim.

Carlesimo and the Nets are coming off arguably the most impressive win of the season and look to keep rolling Friday night against the Washington Wizards in the finale of a three-game road trip. Carlesimo is 3-1 since taking over for the fired Avery Johnson and guided the Nets to an improbable 110-93 road win over the mighty Oklahoma City Thunder.

Brooklyn had a 14-point lead after the first quarter and led by 16 at the break. After a shaky third period in which the Nets scored only 15 points, they picked it up in the final frame to halt Oklahoma City's 12-game home winning streak. Joe Johnson scored a season-best 33 points, nailing 5-of-10 3- pointers, and Deron Williams added 19 points, 13 assists and five steals.

Brook Lopez chipped in 25 points for the Nets, who shot 50 percent for the game and made 52.9 percent from downtown (17-of-25). Lopez is averaging 23.6 points and 8.4 boards in his last five games.

"We showed ourselves what we're capable of doing," Carlesimo said. "This game was an excellent performance."

Thunder superstar Kevin Durant was so frustrated toward the end of the game he was ejected for the first time in his career. Durant was slapped with his second technical foul for arguing a call with 1:57 left in the game.

The Nets are 6-8 away from home this season and could be without a few players Friday. Forward Kris Humphries (sprained left ankle) is doubtful tonight and guards Jerry Stackhouse (hamstring) and C.J. Watson (knee) are questionable.

Washington has the worst record in the NBA at 4-26 and is 0-2 so far in the new year. The Wizards have lost three in a row and 11 of 12 games, including Wednesday's 89-81 road defeat at the hands of the Indiana Pacers.

Jordan Crawford recorded a team-high 20 points, while Kevin Seraphin scored 16 off the bench, Nene posted 15 and Bradley Beal finished with 14 points. The Wizards lost despite shooting better than Indiana from the floor, making 42.2 percent of their shots compared to the Pacers' 37.7 clip.

The Wizards made 3-of-13 3-pointers and fell to 2-19 against the East. They are 0-12 on the road in conference play.

"We had to use a lot of energy to fight out of the hole," Crawford said.

Seraphin is averaging 13.8 points and 5.8 rebounds in his last four games for Washington, which will try to work on its 3-12 home record.

The Wizards lost two of three meetings with the Nets a season ago, but are 9-4 in the past 13 matchups between the teams. Crawford had averages of 15.7 points, 3.7 rebounds and 2.3 assists in three games versus the Nets last season.