Throughout his tenure with the Brooklyn Nets, Kevin Ollie has consistently advocated for the defensive intensity and dedication necessary to secure victories.

As they approach the final 10 games, Ollie is optimistic about witnessing a repeat of the commendable performance displayed during their recent 96-88 triumph over the Toronto Raptors.

The Nets will have an opportunity to showcase their skills under interim coach Ollie as they face the Washington Wizards, who are striving for their longest winning streak of the season.

Since Ollie took over as head coach in the NBA after Jacque Vaughn‘s dismissal last month, Brooklyn (27-45) has struggled, posting a record of 6-12. Amidst this, the team endured a series of setbacks, including seven losses by sizable margins, with a three-game losing streak marking a challenging period before their recent defensive stand against the Raptors.

Brooklyn’s defensive prowess was particularly evident in the fourth quarter, limiting their opponents to just 19 points following a previous 12-0 run allowed in their prior game against the New York Knicks.

“Playing with one another. Getting stops,” Ollie said of Brooklyn’s defense. “Our defense was phenomenal tonight and then we just outrebounded them.”

The Nets have struggled since their back-to-back victories against the Atlanta Hawks in late February and early March, falling behind in the race for the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference by 5 1/2 games.

Despite several key absences in their recent matchup against the Raptors, the Nets managed to secure the win with notable contributions from Dennis Schroder, Trendon Watford, Nic Claxton, and Mikal Bridges.

“I was playing bad pretty much the whole game but I just wanted to win,” Bridges said. “I felt good enough where I’m like I think I can help the team right now. I just didn’t want to lose this game.”

Looking ahead, the Wizards (14-58) are currently enjoying their first three-game winning streak since a successful six-game stretch concluded back in late January 2023. Following a challenging period of 16 consecutive losses, Washington has shown improvement with a 5-5 record in their last ten games.

Washington’s recent victories exemplified their resilience, prevailing in close contests and notably overcoming a 14-point deficit against the Chicago Bulls to secure a narrow 107-105 win.

“That’s something that we want to be much, much more common in the near future,” Washington’s Corey Kispert said of the streak. “While it feels good now, we’re just kind of ready to make it a fourth.”

In their recent game, Jordan Poole led the Wizards with 23 points, supported by strong performances from Corey Kispert, Marvin Bagley II, and Jared Butler. Despite challenges in shooting efficiency and the absence of Kyle Kuzma, Washington demonstrated resilience and secured a hard-fought win.

The Nets are 6-1 in the past seven meetings.