Nets 97, Wizards 89: Eight Is Enough As New Jersey Ends Losing Streak

Devin Harris scored 29 points to help lead the New Jersey Nets to their first victory in the month of December and snap an eight game losing streak as they took out the Washington Wizards 97-89 Thursday night at the Prudential Center.

Center Brook Lopez added 18 points and five rebounds in just 24 minutes while Travis Outlaw contributed 13 off the bench.

The Nets got another double-double from Kris Humpries as the rugged forward chipped in 12 points and grabbed a game-high 17 rebounds.

The Wizards are now a league-worst 0-13 on the road and have dropped 10 of their last 11 games overall, though the Nets seemed to do everything they could to help the visitors hang around.  After the Nets jumped out to a 23 point lead their second-to-last in the league offense kicked in as Washington came all the way back to tie the game and the Nets held just a one point lead with 1:37 left in the fourth.

Nick Young led the Wizards in scoring with 22 point off the bench.  After looking like a shell of himself in the first half, Gilbert Arenas helped to lead the Wizards furious comeback finishing with 19 points and 9 assists.

The No. 1 overall pick in the draft, John Wall, missed the game with tendinitis in his right knee.

New Jersey continued to play short-handed while they deal with the injuries to Damion James and Anthony Morrow and wait for Terrence Williams to take his physical so they can activate Sasha Vujacic.

They may have had to wait a while to pick up a victory, but that doesn't mean the Nets will have much time to enjoy it.  They return to action Friday night in Toronto against the Raptors.

Nets vs. Wizards: Sasha Vujacic's Debut Will Have To Wait

Recently acquired guard Sasha Vujacic was cramming with assistant coach Popeye Jones early on Thursday to prepare for his debut against the Washington Wizards.

Turns out he will have plenty of time to prepare for his debut with the New Jersey Nets.

Despite reports to the contrary, Terrence Williams has yet to complete his physical with the Houston Rockets.  Until he does, Vujacic will have to stay on the sidelines.

It was mentioned in jest (?) to Avery Johnson that maybe Williams was late for his physical, which drew laughter from the press.

"That's not funny," Johnson said.  "Just make sure you report that all of you guys laughed."

Nets vs. Wizards: Sasha Vujacic To Make His Debut

All of the physicals have been passed, making the three-team trade that sent Terrence Williams to the Houston Rockets and brought Sasha Vujacic from the Los Angeles Lakers to the Nets is officially complete. 

The veteran guard that was seldom-used with the Lakers will jump right into Avery Johnson's rotation tonight at the Prudential Center against the Washington Wizards.  His former teammate, Jordan Farmar, will start next to Devin Harris in the backcourt but Vujacic won't be too far behind.

With Joe Smith sent to Los Angeles, Troy Murphy should finally reappear in a Nets uniform.  Murphy has been inactive the last two games.

New Jersey Nets vs. Washington Wizards: Homestand Ends With Battle Of Struggling Teams

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets will try to put the brakes on an ugly eight-game losing streak when they entertain the Washington Wizards tonight from the Prudential Center.

New Jersey suffered its eighth consecutive defeat with Tuesday's 82-77 setback to Atlantic Division-rival Philadelphia in the middle contest of a three-game homestand. Jrue Holiday scored 19 points and Spencer Hawes had 18 for the Sixers in that one.

Brook Lopez scored 16 points to lead New Jersey, while Devin Harris and Travis Outlaw both chipped in 14.

Now sitting at an Eastern Conference-worst 6-19, the Nets swung a fairly significant deal on Wednesday, acquiring guard Sasha Vujacic and a fair of first round picks.

The Nets got Vujacic along with a 2011 first round draft choice from the Los Angeles Lakers and a 2012 first rounder from Houston. Veteran forward Joe Smith went from the Nets to LA while second-year swingman Terrence Williams was sent to the Rockets. In addition, the Nets shipped two second- round picks to Los Angeles while the Lakers also acquired the draft rights to center Sergei Lishchuk from the Rockets.

Vujacic has spent his entire seven-year NBA career with the Lakers and has averaged just 1.8 points in 11 games this season. Over 420 career games, the native of Slovenia has posted 4.8 points and 1.7 rebounds.

"This trade benefits our team in both the short and long term," said New Jersey general manager Billy King. "Sasha is a veteran NBA player who will add depth to our backcourt rotation, while the addition of the two future number one picks adds to our assets as we look to rebuild into a championship contender."

The Wizards, meanwhile, continue to struggle in their own right and dropped their fifth straight game against the Lakers on Tuesday when Kobe Bryant scored a game-high 24 points, as Los Angeles topped Washington, 103-89, at the Verizon Center.

Nick Young led the Wizards with 21 points, and JaVale McGee scored 12 and grabbed nine rebounds for Washington. Gilbert Arenas and Al Thornton both finished with 11 points in defeat.

The Wizards were without the services of John Wall and Andray Blatche, who are both out with knee injuries, and forward Yi Jianlian left the game at the midway point of the first quarter with a sprained right knee.

"Every time you lose someone, roles change," Wizards head coach Flip Saunders said. "When you continue to lose people, you're looking at a guy like [Trevor] Booker who's an energy guy for you, but now he has to become a main guy. You're asking for somebody that is really not ready to do that, but I thought overall as a team we competed."

Wall is listed as questionable tonight while Blatche is doubtful and Yi has been ruled out as Washington attempts to win on the road for the first time this season. The Wizards have beaten New Jersey five consecutive times but are an NBA worst 0-12 as the visitor on the year.