Nets Lose Draft Lottery Opportunity With Comeback Win Over Wizards

Brooklyn's victory over Washington hurts their chances in the NBA Draft Lottery

Apr. 5, 2026 at 11:39pm

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In a matchup between two teams vying for a high draft pick, the Brooklyn Nets came back from a late deficit to defeat the Washington Wizards 121-115. The win, however, hurt the Nets' chances of securing a top lottery spot, as they fell to third in the standings, two games behind the Wizards and half a game behind the Indiana Pacers.

Why it matters

The Nets were in a prime position to improve their draft position by losing to the Wizards, but their comeback victory has now jeopardized their chances of landing a top pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. This could have significant implications for the team's long-term rebuilding efforts.

The details

The Nets trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half but rallied in the fourth quarter, outscoring the Wizards 20-10 in the final 3:50 to secure the victory. Rookie guard Nolan Traore led the way for Brooklyn with 23 points and 7 assists, including a key 3-pointer that put the Nets up by 7 with just over a minute remaining.

  • The Nets and Wizards faced off on Sunday, April 5, 2026 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
  • The Nets trailed 105-101 with 3:50 left in the game before going on an 8-0 run to take the lead for good.
  • Traore's 3-pointer that put the Nets up 115-108 came with 1:15 left in the game.

The players

Nolan Traore

A rookie guard for the Brooklyn Nets who led the team with 23 points and 7 assists in the comeback win over the Wizards.

Will Riley

A Wizards player who scored a game-high 30 points in the losing effort.

Anthony Gill

A Wizards forward who scored 16 points in the game.

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What they’re saying

“The Nets had a chance to pull even with the Wizards atop the all-important lottery standings. Instead, the win saw them fall into third, two full games behind the Wizards and a half-game behind Indiana pending the Pacers tilt vs. Cleveland.”

— Brian Lewis, Author

What’s next

The Nets will host the tanking Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday and the Indiana Pacers on Thursday. Their lottery positioning could shift further depending on the outcomes of those games.

The takeaway

This victory for the Nets, while exciting for fans in the moment, ultimately hurts the team's chances of securing a high draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The Nets will need to carefully balance their desire to win games with their long-term rebuilding efforts.