Cam Thomas helps Nets rally from 23 down to beat Wizards 125-123

NEW YORK (AP)— Cam Thomas scored a career-high 44 points off the bench and theshort-handed Brooklyn Nets rallied from a 23-point deficit to stunthe Washington Wizards 125-123 on Saturday night.

Edmond Sumneralso set a personal best with 29 points and Nic Claxton had 15points and 13 rebounds for the Nets, who had their largest comebackwin of the season and swept the regular-season series against theWizards. Patty Mills added 13 points and Royce O’Neale had 10 forthe Nets, who trailed 44-21 late in the first quarter.

The victorycame despite Brooklyn being without Kyrie Irving, who was out withwhat the team said was right calf soreness — a day after he toldthe Nets he wants to be traded.

The Nets, whoalso played without Kevin Durant (right knee MCL sprain), T.J.Warren (left shin contusion) and Ben Simmons (left knee soreness),also lost Seth Curry (left adductor) and Markieff Morris (sore leftknee) in the game.

KristapsPorzingis led the Wizards with 38 points before fouling out. DeniAvdija finished with 23 points, Monte Morris added 18 and CoreyKispert had 15 as Washington lost its second in a row.

Entering thefourth quarter, Washington was clinging to a 99-92 lead but Mills,Thomas, and Yuta Watanabe scored eight points to help Brooklynclose to 102-100. Porzingis replied with a 14-footer and two freethrows to extend the Wizards’ lead to 106-101.

It didn’tlast long.

Mills andSumner made baskets to cut it to 106-105, but Porzingis’three-point play pushed the lead back to four. Thomas converted alayup and a two-handed dunk on Brooklyn’s next two possessions totie it at 109-109.

AfterWashington took a 110-109 lead on a free throw by Porzingis,Brooklyn went ahead for the first time in the game on Thomas’3-pointer with 5:46 left. Porzingis knocked down two free throws totie it again.

With the Netsahead 120-119, Morris gave the Wizards the lead again on a pair offree throws. But Thomas made a jumper, Morris had a pull-up jumperand Thomas made a layup and then a free throw after Daniel Gaffordwas called for goaltending and Avdija whistled for a foul — givingBrooklyn a 125-123 lead.

Washingtonhad a chance to tie when Thomas was called for a foul, but Morrismissed both foul shots and the Nets got the rebound and ran out theclock.

TIP-INS

Wizards:Coach Wes Unseld Jr. said before the game Bradley Beal was out with“left foot soreness.” At some point during the Wizards’ 124-116loss to Portland on Friday night, Beal landed on Trail Blazersguard Anfernee Simons’ foot. “He was able to get through, (but) youcould tell there were some moments throughout the third or fourthquarter when he just didn’t move correctly,” Unseld Jr. said. “Sohe’ll get re-evaluated this afternoon, this evening and tomorrow.”Beal, in his 10th season, is averaging 22.4 points, 3.5 rebounds,and 5.1 assists per game.

Nets: Much ofcoach Jacque Vaughn’s pregame availability was spent discussingIrving’s trade demand, which became public Friday afternoon. TheNets entered the game third in the Atlantic Division, fourth in theEastern Conference, and sixth overall in the NBA. “I think you makethis as simple as possible,” Vaughn said. “With the group, you’reextremely honest with these guys. ... So I think that’s theapproach with this group: focus on today. That doesn’t change.We’ve been really good at just locking in and doing our jobs.”

UPNEXT

Wizards: HostCleveland on Monday night.

Nets: Hostthe Los Angeles Clippers on Monday night.