CAUGHT OFF GUARD
Kenny Atkinson wanted his Nets to match the Wizards’ physicality — and they did. What they couldn’t do was match the Washington’s backcourt, or come up with the one shot they needed in the end.
While Brook Lopez was watching from the bench after having fouled out, the Wizards’ stars took over in overtime. The Nets couldn’t stop — or even slow — Bradley Beal and John Wall in a 114-110 OT loss before 13,179 at Barclays Center.
Washington’s duo combined for 54 points, including 20 in the extra period alone while Lopez sat. Meanwhile, the Nets’ backcourt of Spencer Dinwiddie and Randy Foye mustered just five points between them.
Bojan Bogdanovic led the Nets with 21 points, but missed a step-back 3pointer that could have been the winner with 7.9 seconds to play in regulation, and another to tie with 5.6 seconds left in OT.
“We had in this game all we can ask for,” Bogdanovic said. “We had two wide-open shots, especially the second one. Kenny drew a great play; unfortunately I missed both shots.
“Also the end of regular time, I get a wide-open shot, but especially the last one was completely open. But unfortunately I missed both of them.”
After Bogdanovic’s last 3 missed, Wall, who finished with 23 points and 12 assists, went to the line with Washington ahead 113-110 and iced it with a free throw with 2.9 seconds left. The Nets (9-44) dropped their 11th consec- utive game and 13th straight at home.
“Our guys are competing,’’ Atkinson said. “For all of us it’d be great to get a breakthrough. I think we need a breakthrough ‘W’ to get us over that hump.”
Wall and Beal — who finished with a game-high 31 points — made sure it didn’t happen. They lifted Washington to 31-21 after a 2-8 start to the season.
Lopez, who scored 20 points, fouled out on a charge with 1:20 to play, wiping out a basket that would have tied the game at 100-all.
“I thought it was ridiculous, honestly,’’ Lopez said of the foul. “To make that call at that juncture, obviously I don’t agree with it because it was on me, but I didn’t see it. It was extremely questionable.”
The game was tied 100all after regulation, and both teams went back-andforth in overtime.
Otto Porter Jr., who had 20 points, scored for a 107106 Washington lead with just under two minutes left in overtime, and Caris LeVert followed with just one of two free throws to leave the game tied. Porter got fouled and sank both of his for a 109-107 edge.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (13 points, 11 rebounds) missed in traffic, and Wall’s free throws with a minute left gave Washington a four-point edge. Bogdanovic’s dunk cut it in half, but after Beal missed, he got his own rebound, was fouled and hit both for a 113-109 lead with 18.3 seconds left.
Foye made one of two foul shots, and when the Nets harassed Wall into stepping out of bounds with 6.1 seconds to play, they had one last chance — but Bogdanovic couldn’t get the shot to go down.