WASHINGTON (AP)—John Wall(notes) scored 26 points to help the Washington Wizards
overcome a 17-point deficit to beat the New Jersey Nets 98-92 on Sunday.
After New Jersey’s Kris Humphries(notes) scored five straight points to tie the
score at 90 with 1:44 left, Wall hit a jumper with 1:22 left and another with
46.5 for a 94-90 lead.
Wall was helped out by Jordan Crawford’s(notes) 21 points, JaVale McGee’s(notes) 16 and
Maurice Evans’(notes) 15.
Washington, which broke a six-game losing streak, trailed 56-39 just before
halftime, but Wall scored the last four points of the first half.
The Wizards outscored the Nets 28-12 in the third quarter to take a 71-68
lead. The Nets missed 11 of 15 field goal attempts in the quarter.
Washington stretched its lead to 77-70 with 9:49 left on Kevin Seraphin’s(notes)
jumper, but the Nets went on a 9-0 run. The Wizards, sparked by two jumpers by
Wall and a 3-pointer by Maurice Evans, outscored New Jersey 12-4 for an 89-83
lead with 4:12 to play before Humphries’ string of points.
The Nets, who have lost three straight, were led by Robin Lopez(notes), with 21
points and 10 rebounds. Anthony Morrow(notes) had 19 and Humphries had 18 points and 17
rebounds.
New Jersey was playing without Deron Williams(notes), who will miss at least the
next three games with an injured right wrist.
In place of his star point guard, Nets coach Avery Johnson started Jordan
Farmar(notes), who had a career-high 17 assists—11 in the first half to help the Nets
get their big lead.
Johnson said that Williams’ rest would be re-evaluated after he misses the
three games.
“It’s something that we know, rest—not surgery—is required,” Johnson
said. “We’ll treat him. We’ll rest him.”
In the Nets’ locker room before the game, Williams said he was eager to play
again this season.
“I’m just getting a little rest and then re-evaluate it,” Williams said.
“Maybe a couple of more games. It’s not really set in stone. I’ll just see how
it feels.”
NOTES: New Jersey signed G Sundiata Gaines(notes) for the rest of this and next
season. He’ll back up Jordan Farmar in Williams’ absence. … Humphries had his
10th straight double-double. … Washington G Cartier Martin(notes) returned after
missing five games with a right knee injury. … The two teams are a combined
5-60 on the road. The Nets are 4-29. The Wizards are 1-31.
Continued here:
Down 17, Wall and Wizards rally by Nets (AP)