NEW YORK _ Whether you call it "mojo" or "rhythm" or the "it factor," the Nets clearly lost their surprising early-season chemistry during a four-game losing streak. But whatever they lost was found Friday night at Barclays Center, where they were utterly dominant on their way to a 119-84 victory over the Wizards that they led by as much as 40 points in the fourth quarter.
During the losing streak, the Nets were troubled by slow starts, a problem they fixed during a game in which they never trailed from the opening tip. But it was their second-half finish that dazzled as they outscored the Wizards, 66-41 after intermission. It was a great way for the Nets to begin a stretch of seven games in 11 nights, including three back-to-backs.
Six players scored in double figures for the Nets (12-19) topped by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, who had 21 points, 11 rebounds and six assists. Caris LeVert totaled 17 points, DeMarre Carroll, Spencer Dinwiddie and Nik Stauskas each had 15 and Jarrett Allen added 10 as they shot 50.0 percent. Kelly Oubre Jr. (13) and John Wall (10) were the only double-figures scorers for the Wizards (17-15), who shot 36.6 percent and were out-rebounded, 60-35.
The Nets' last win before four straight losses came against the Wizards in Brooklyn. But Washington was without Wall in that game because he was recovering from a knee injury.
Wall started this game, creating a tougher challenge in the estimation of Nets coach Kenny Atkinson. "They play much more in transition, more pick-and-roll as opposed to off-ball screens for Bradley Beal," Atkinson said. "Beal is a big part of what they do, but John Wall is the head of the snake. We've got to get back in transition. He creates everything, and we have to control him in the pick-and-roll. That's the key."
Wall played only eight first-half minutes, scoring seven points in that short time.
The Nets came out aggressively in the first half, holding the Wizards to 37.5 percent shooting and outrebounding them, 29-19, on their way to a 53-43 halftime lead. Hollis-Jefferson was a terror in the first half with 15 points, eight rebounds and five assists.
When the third quarter opened, the energy came from a different source. Dinwiddie, who missed his only first-half shot just before the buzzer, sprang into action by running off the Nets' first 11 points of the quarter, including a trio of 3-pointers, as the Nets surged to a 67-47 lead following a three-point play by Carroll.
The Wizards got within 16 before the Nets put together a brilliant 19-4 run just before the end of the period, including six points each from Hollis-Jefferson and Allen for a 30-point lead just before a 3 by Washington's Mike Scott made it 88-61 heading to the fourth period.
