NBA

BOO-TIFUL NIGHT FOR HAYES

WASHINGTON – Jarvis Hayes played here for the Wizards for four seasons and still has a lot of friends in the Washington locker room. The stands might be another matter.

“It’s always a good thing when the home team boos you as a visitor,” Hayes said with a laugh.

By the end of the night, the sellout crowd here wanted to do more than boo Hayes. He scored 14 points and hit two huge 18-footers off screens – just what the Nets signed him to do – in the fourth quarter.

And there was a key 3-pointer in the third quarter when the Nets had slipped behind, 62-58, and looked like they couldn’t buy a bucket.

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Sean Williams thought he had a good preseason, especially in practices. And to stay positive, he told himself he was Nets rotation-worthy.

Ooops.

“No, I’m not in the rotation,” Williams said. “I said I expected to be in the rotation. How could you not say that?”

Williams won’t let the initial decision deter his determination.

“I’m going to work hard regardless. I want to be the best teammate I can be. I’m going to push my teammates to be the best they can be,” he said.

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As expected, Vince Carter was voted in as team captain, succeeding the departed Jason Kidd, who had the honor for six seasons.

“It’s an honor that my teammates believe in me that I can lead them not only as the go-to guy but the inspirational leader,” said Carter.

Eduardo Najera would rather do than talk. But a left wrist that hasn’t cooperated for almost all of October has reduced his early Nets contributions to the verbal sort.

“I don’t like to talk. I’d rather do it myself and kind of show them, especially the young guys,” said Najera, who initially sprained his left wrist, rehabbed it and then fell on it when the Nets played in Paris.

Najera hopes to return to contact practice today.

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Wizards, without Gilbert Arenas (knee) and Brendan Haywood (wrist), shot .370.

Nets will pick up rookie contract options on Williams, Josh Boone and Yi Jianlian by tomorrow. Doubtful they’ll act on Maurice Ager.