Stay on top of breaking news!
Sign up for ABC 7 News e-mail alerts.
(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets will continue their search for the first win of the season tonight, when they visit the Washington Wizards
(web | news) at the Verizon Center.
New Jersey fell to 0-2 on the young season following Friday's 95-85 home loss to Vince Carter and the Orlando Magic at the IZOD Center. Carter was making his return to New Jersey, where he spent four-plus seasons before coming to Orlando in a trade during the offseason, but he left the game early. He ended with 16 points and four assists before spraining his left ankle late in the second quarter. X-rays on Carter's ankle were negative.
Courtney Lee had 18 points for the Nets, who lost 95-93 to the Timberwolves on the season opener Wednesday. Devin Harris added 16 points, seven assists, and five rebounds. Yi Jianlian and Brook Lopez ended with 12 and 11 points, respectively, in defeat.
"It was a good test for us to see where we're at against one of the elite teams in the league," Lopez said.
The Nets will also visit Charlotte on their quick road trip. New Jersey center Tony Battie missed Friday's game with a sore right knee and is questionable for Saturday's game.
Washington has been plagued by the injury bug for a few years now, but some players have returned to health. Gilbert Arenas, who's been in the trainer's room more often over the last two years, is back to form for the 1-1 Wizards, who are coming off last night's costly 100-89 loss at Atlanta.
Wizards forward Caron Butler, another member of the walking wounded, left the game with a knee injury and X-rays were negative. Butler is questionable for Saturday and finished with five points in 17 minutes. Arenas has 23 points and four assists, while Brendan Haywood chipped in 19 points and nine rebounds for the Wizards, who started the season with a 102-91 win over the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday.
"When you get outscored at the line by 17, it's going to hurt you," Wizards first-year head coach Flip Saunders said on the team's site. "When we jumped out to a 10-point lead in the first quarter, it looked like it was going to be an easy one tonight.
"They began to take control of the game in the second quarter when they locked in defensively."
Andray Blatche had 13 points and six rebounds in defeat.
New Jersey and Washington split four meetings a season ago, with each winning on the road. The Nets have won 21 of the previous 29 matchups between the teams and five of six as the visitor.
Copyright 2009 The Sports Network
All rights reserved
Email To Friend
ABC 7 News to leave comments on news stories.