Nets get test in tankathon do-over in matchup with lowly Wizards

WASHINGTON — The Nets’ tank is rolling on. 

Sunday night it rolls right into Washington, for a tank battle against the equally woeful Wizards. 

Rebuilding Brooklyn is just 1-11, entering the weekend tied with the Wizards and Pacers for the worst record in the NBA, and the best odds in the lottery. 

That makes Sunday’s tilt huge for the tank.

A victory would be Pyrrhic. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) goes to the basket against Orlando Magic center Wendell Carter Jr. (34) during the first quarter at Kia Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

“It’s a learning process. And it’s not just about the young guys. And I want to repeat this over and over: It’s about us. It’s about the group. It’s about growing together,” said Jordi Fernández of his inexperienced team’s growth. “There’s a plan for everybody to get better. And if you don’t get better, you get worse. 

“So, from here that’s a challenge for all of us, and we want to continue to see this. Our wins are not just in the standings; our wins are in so many different places. We’ll judge that (and) we’ll move on to the next one. To me, that’s the challenge, keep seeing positives and keep getting one percent better, and we’ll be OK.” 

For Brooklyn, a win would be a loss where Egor Dëmin, Noah Clowney and Drake Powell — all 21 or under — played well. 

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Many pro-tanking Nets fans still look back at last season’s strong start — going into Thanksgiving an unexpected 9-10 — as having been costly in the lottery long run, hurting their chances at a franchise cornerstone. 

Enter this year’s do-over. 

While the lottery is capricious and random — rewarding long shots lately at the cost of the last-place teams — the Nets still seem intent on giving themselves every edge come May.

That may mean losing Sunday against a Wizards team that has shown a single-minded determination to beat Brooklyn to the bottom. 

While Indiana took on Toronto on Saturday, the Nets play a day later in Washington, the first of four clashes in this season-long tank battle. 

Brooklyn has looked better lately despite Cam Thomas being hamstrung.

Their Defensive Rating, a runaway worst in the league at 128.5 through the first seven games, has improved over the past five, at 120.8.

Still seventh worst, but the intent and competitiveness have been better. 

The Nets led by 16 Friday in Orlando, and 98-94 with two minutes left before coughing up an 11-0 run to end the game. 

“Our guys played a good brand of basketball: competitive, selfless and connected for 48 minutes,” said Fernández. “If this is the way we present ourselves every game, good things are going to happen. Guys are going to get better, and we’ll see that we’ve won.” 

Will that win come in Washington? 

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez motions to the court during the second quarter against the Orlando Magic at Kia Center. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

As badly as Brooklyn has struggled, the Wizards have been another level of bad despite last year’s No. 2 pick Alex Sarr averaging 19.1 points, 8.6 rebounds and 2.3 blocks. 

Washington’s 10-game losing streak, Scoring Defense (129.7) and Net Rating (minus-15.7) are all dead last in the league as it guns for the top lottery seed. 

Granted, having the worst record doesn’t guarantee lottery luck.

Ever since the NBA flattened the lottery odds to try to tamp down tanking, not once has the team with the worst mark won.

The top seed has tumbled all the way to the fifth pick in the past three years.

It’s both the lowest, and likeliest, landing spot. 

Still, the top seed can’t fall past fifth, whereas the No. 2 seed can end up sixth and the third seed can tumble all the way to seventh.

In a loaded draft — with more than one can’t-miss prospect, unlike last year — that is relevant. 

Kansas guard Darryn Peterson, Duke big Cameron Boozer and BYU wing AJ Dybansta are all seen as potential franchise-changers, and would be No. 1 picks in most years.

There was debate over where Cooper Flagg would’ve gone had he not reclassified. 

All of the top three lottery seeds will have identical 40.1% odds to land one of that trio.

Sunday is the first of four huge tanking tilts against Washington to see just where the Nets fall in those standings.