Spencer’s money as Nets beat Wiz
Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets keep adding to a big week.
The Washington Wizards sounded like a team that may be breaking up.
Dinwiddie scored 27 points in his first game since signing a three-year contract extension, and the Nets beat the Wizards 125-118 on Friday night for their season-best fourth straight victory.
The Wizards then returned to their locker room following their fourth straight loss to an ESPN.com report that the team was working on a trade involving Austin Rivers and Kelly Oubre Jr. with the team 11-18.
A later report said the deal had fallen through, but that was after Rivers — who wasn’t aware of all the details — believed he was departing. He said he was disappointed in part because he had just moved after being dealt from the Clippers to the Wizards over the summer.
“More so you just want things to work,” he said. “When I got traded, they traded for me for a reason so you’d like to see it work out.”
Things are working out great for Dinwiddie, who has starred as a sixth man this season and settled the Nets down in the fourth quarter after their 16-point lead was cut to four.
“It was nice to see him after everything that’s happened. I thought he took it to another level, defensively and offensively,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He was outstanding all around. You definitely see the growth, the maturity and quite honestly leadership capabilities. He’s getting better every day.”
Joe Harris added 19 points for the Nets, who put up a season-high 70 points in the first half but had to withstand Washington’s fourthquarter charge.
Dinwiddie halted the Wizards’ run with a basket and some free throws, and Harris added some clutch baskets down the stretch as the Nets held on to remain unbeaten since a players-only film session after a collapse and loss to Oklahoma City on Dec. 5.
“Now we’re kind of rolling a little bit,” Dinwiddie said. “Let’s keep it going. Let’s never get too high or too low.”
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished with 15 points, nine rebounds and six assists for the Nets, who shot 52 percent from the field.
Bradley Beal had 31 points and nine assists for the Wizards, while John Wall had 17 points and 13 assists.