Insights from Saturday’s Tank Bowl
Saturday’s matchup between the Nets and the Wizards revealed a couple of things.
First and foremost, it seems that the Nets are still fighting under coach Jordi Fernandez.
Secondly, despite trading away Anthony Davis and Trae Young, Washington’s efforts in tanking are still holding strong.
The game ended with Brooklyn overcoming a three-game losing streak, but not as one might expect—with a 127-113 defeat against the Wizards, in front of a full crowd of 17,548 at Barclays Center.
It was surprising considering the makeshift lineup Washington put on the court.
The Nets (14-37) have struggled recently, managing to win only one out of their last ten games, making history as one of the few teams to incur 50-point losses multiple times in a single season.
However, they managed to shake off their slump. They even led by as much as 34 points during the game, scoring their highest first-half total in team history before hanging on in the second half.
Ironically, while some might find joy in their win, many tank enthusiasts view it as something less impressive.
Entering the game, Brooklyn was in fourth place in the lottery standings, a game behind both Indiana and New Orleans/Atlanta, but just ahead of Washington.
There had been some curiosity about how the absences of Young and Davis, both All-Stars, would affect the Wizards’ ability to tank.
The answer? Not significantly. In fact, during the post-game remarks, Washington coach Brian Keefe chose not to confirm a report that suggested Davis might miss the remainder of the season, stating simply, “I can’t confirm that.”
Still, both stars were out, along with several other players, leaving Washington with just eight players—many of whom were on two-way contracts.
Brooklyn seemed to have an easy path to victory, it left some wondering if that was just in their favor because of their win streak and, well, luck?
The Nets saw seven players score in double figures, achieving a field goal percentage of 54.9 percent. Michael Porter Jr. led with 23 points and six rebounds, while Dayron Sharp contributed 19 points and nine rebounds in a little over 19 minutes. Nolan Traore and fellow rookie Danny Wolf also made significant contributions, finishing with 15 and 16 points, respectively.
The Nets managed to pull off a lead of 77-43, thanks to Porter’s layup right before halftime. They were dominant, even finishing the first quarter at 46-20. This was their best quarter performance since April 2023.
By halftime, they scored 80 points, marking their fifth-highest first-half score ever.
In the second half, Washington attempted to mount a comeback, led by rookie Will Riley who scored 27 points. However, Brooklyn maintained control of the game.
Meanwhile, a slew of key players for Washington—including Dante Exum, Jaden Hardy, and D’Angelo Russell—sat out, further complicating their situation.
