Justin Champagnie scored a season-high 20 points as the Washington Wizards defeated the Brooklyn Nets 119-99 on Friday at Capital One Arena. The win marked Washington’s fourth victory in five games, a level of consistency the team hasn’t seen since February 2023.
Alex Sarr added 19 points and CJ McCollum contributed 17 as the Wizards controlled the boards 51-33. Washington also limited Brooklyn to just six 3-pointers on 29 attempts (20.7%), holding the Nets to a season-low from beyond the arc.
The Wizards capitalized on turnovers, building a 19-2 advantage in points off mistakes by halftime. An 18-4 run spanning the first and second quarters stretched their lead to 18, with Champagnie’s buzzer-beating 3-pointer closing the first quarter at 37-24.
Brooklyn briefly cut the deficit to nine in the second and third quarters, but Washington extended the lead to 23 by the end of the third and 28 early in the fourth. Will Riley and AJ Johnson contributed key baskets in the second quarter to maintain momentum.
Day’Ron Sharpe, Terance Mann, Ziaire Williams, and Drake Powell each scored 14 points for the Nets, but the team’s three-game winning streak came to an end. Brooklyn’s shooting percentages—40% overall and 21% from three—underscored their offensive struggles.
Washington’s bench played a pivotal role, with Champagnie and Riley providing scoring bursts while securing rebounds and facilitating ball movement. The team continues to show improvement despite maintaining the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference at 9-24.
The Wizards host Minnesota on Sunday in the second of three consecutive home games, while the Nets open a three-game homestand against Denver.
