The Brooklyn Nets (10-21) travel to face the Washington Wizards (8-24) in an Eastern Conference matchup between two struggling teams looking to build momentum in the new year. Both squads are in the bottom tier of the conference standings, with the Nets sitting 13th and the Wizards 14th. This game represents an opportunity for either side to gain ground in a weak bottom half of the East, where small winning streaks can shift positions quickly. The Nets enter as slight favorites, but the Wizards’ recent resilience at home could make this a competitive affair.
Venue Location
Capital One Arena, Washington, DC. This iconic venue, home to the Wizards since 1997, has a capacity of over 20,000 and is known for its vibrant atmosphere during divisional games.
Tipoff is scheduled for 7:00 PM ET. The game will be broadcast nationally on NBA League Pass, with local options available on YES Network for Nets fans and Monumental Sports Network for Wizards viewers.
Injury Report
Both teams are dealing with key absences that could impact rotations and defensive schemes. The Nets have submitted their report, showing several players sidelined or questionable, while the Wizards are missing contributors in the frontcourt and wing positions.
Brooklyn Nets:
Egor Demin (G): Out – Lower back soreness.
Tyson Etienne (G): Out – G League assignment.
Haywood Highsmith (F): Out – Right knee recovery (expected return Jan 4).
Michael Porter Jr. (F): Game-time decision – Illness (was sidelined in their previous game).
Washington Wizards:
Corey Kispert (F): Out – Left hamstring strain (expected return Jan 9).
Kyshawn George (F): Out – Left hip flexor strain (expected return Jan 4).
These injuries could force adjustments, particularly for the Wizards, who lose shooting and versatility without Kispert and George. The Nets’ potential absence of Porter Jr. would be a major blow to their scoring, as he leads the team with 25.8 points per game.
Player Matchups
This game features intriguing battles between veteran scorers and emerging young talents, with both teams relying on rebuilt rosters featuring trades and draft picks. Key matchups to watch:
Michael Porter Jr. (Nets, F) vs. Bilal Coulibaly/Alex Sarr (Wizards, F/C): If Porter plays through his illness, his 25.8 PPG and perimeter shooting will test the Wizards’ young frontcourt. Sarr (17.6 PPG, 8.2 RPG) has been a defensive anchor as a rookie, but Porter’s size and range could pull him out of the paint.
CJ McCollum (Wizards, G) vs. Cameron Thomas/Terance Mann (Nets, G): McCollum leads Washington with 18.6 PPG and will look to exploit Brooklyn’s backcourt, especially if Mann (GTD, hip) is limited. Thomas (10 PPG) provides scoring punch off the bench for the Nets.
Alex Sarr (Wizards, C) vs. Day’Ron Sharpe/Danny Wolf (Nets, C/F): Sarr’s athleticism and rebounding will clash with Brooklyn’s young bigs, including rookie Wolf (7.5 PPG) who recently earned starts. This matchup could dictate control of the glass.
Other Notables: Wizards rookie Tre Johnson (12.2 PPG) vs. Nets’ Ziaire Williams or Drake Powell (6.0 PPG). Washington’s second-year wing Kyshawn George (15.0 PPG) is out, shifting more responsibility to Johnson.
The Nets have slightly better offensive efficiency (109.2 PPG, though last in the league), while the Wizards struggle defensively, allowing opponents high shooting percentages.
Recent Team Forms
Both teams have shown flashes of improvement amid rebuilds, but consistency remains an issue.
Brooklyn Nets: The Nets are 5-5 in their last 10 games, including a season-best three-game winning streak from December 21-27 (victories over Toronto, Philadelphia, and Minnesota). However, they’ve dropped their last two, including a 120-96 blowout loss to Houston on January 1 and a 120-107 defeat to Golden State on December 29. Offense has been stagnant lately, failing to reach 100 points in the Houston loss. Rookies like Danny Wolf and Drake Powell have stepped up with starts, providing energy.
Washington Wizards: Washington is 3-7 in their last 10 but has won three of their last four to close out 2025, including a gritty 114-113 road upset over Milwaukee on December 31, a 116-112 home win over Memphis on December 28, and a 138-117 blowout of Toronto on December 26. This follows a brutal start where they lost 23 of their first 28 games. Under coach Brian Keefe, defense and resilience have improved, with young players like Sarr and Johnson contributing.
| Last 5 Games | Brooklyn Nets | Washington Wizards |
| Most Recent | L 120-96 vs HOU (1/1) | W 114-113 @ MIL (12/31) |
| L 120-107 vs GS (12/29) | L 115-101 vs PHX (12/29) | |
| W 123-107 @ MIN (12/27) | W 116-112 vs MEM (12/28) | |
| W 114-106 @ PHI (12/23) | W 138-117 vs TOR (12/26) | |
| W 96-81 vs TOR (12/21) | L 126-109 @ CHA (12/23) | |
| Record | 3-2 | 3-2 |
Series History
The all-time series is closely contested, with the Wizards holding a slight edge at 110 wins to the Nets’ 101 in 211 regular-season meetings. Recently, Brooklyn has dominated, winning 9 of the last 12 encounters, including a 129-106 victory in Washington on November 16, 2025, where Michael Porter Jr. posted 34 points, nine rebounds, and seven assists. The Nets are 5-2 straight up in their last seven road games against the Wizards. Washington last beat Brooklyn on March 29, 2025 (115-112).
Betting Trends
Brooklyn is 9-3 straight up in the last 12 meetings.
Over/Under: The under has hit in 13 of Brooklyn’s last 18 games and 11 of their last 12 on the road against Washington. Wizards games have gone under in 3 of their last 5.
Other Trends: Wizards are 6-10 ATS on the road but 3-2 ATS in their last five overall. Brooklyn is 5-2 straight up in their last seven road games vs. Washington, but the Wizards are 2-3 in their last five games decided by three points or fewer.
Game Odds
Brooklyn Nets – 1.5
Washington Wizards 226.5
Odds Courtesy of Sports Odds Direct as of Thursday, January 1, 2026
