NEW YORK -- Ramon Sessions began his 30th birthday by pushing the pace as the Washington Wizards scored the first 20 points. He spent the rest of it watching the Wizards give it all back before making enough plays down the stretch.

Sessions collected 21 and 12 assists in three quarters as the Wizards blew an early 20-point lead before pulling out a 120-111 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Sessions scored or assisted on six baskets as Washington made its first nine shots and scored the game's first 20 points in the opening 4:09. He made his first five shots and finished 7 of 10.

After the hot start, the Wizards gradually gave it back, allowing the Nets to get within one at halftime and take a pair of six-point leads during the third.

"This league is a league of runs and we knew they were going to make a push," Sessions said. "We played them a few days ago and I think 10-0, they made a run. Twenty to nothing, we knew they were going to make a run. We didn't know it was going to that soon a run but they did make a good run."

"When it got to 20-0, then we just kind of relaxed and became softer as the game wore on," Washington coach Randy Wittman said."

Sessions' final contribution were two foul shots that gave Washington a five-point lead late in the third. Then he watched Washington's reserves secure the win on both ends in the opening minutes of the fourth.

The Wizards (40-41) finally gained enough separation midway through the fourth when Garrett Temple hit a 3-pointer and rookie Kelly Oubre Jr. hit a layup. Those hoops in a span of 36 seconds opened a 114-102 lead and the Nets never got closer than eight the rest of the way.

In a game where little defense was played, the Wizards allowed 13 points in the fourth as the Nets missed 14 of 20 shots in the period.

"We try to push the pace and we were trying to stay with it," Sessions said. "We knew that at the end of the game if we continue to play at that pace we'll be fine. We just had to get some stops and we did."

While Sessions recorded his third double-double in four games starting in for point guard John Wall (sore right knee), six others reached double figures for Washington.

Marcus Thornton added 19, J.J. Hickson contributed 15 and Oubre had 14, including a 35-foot 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer. Marcin Gortat and Temple added 11 apiece while Otto Porter Jr. finished with 10.

The Nets (21-60) lost their season-high ninth straight and reached 60 defeats for the fifth time since joining the NBA in 1976. Due to rest and injuries, Brooklyn had nine available players and used its 15th starting lineup since the All-Star break and 22nd overall.

"I just thought the group we put out on the floor once we got behind just got after it a little bit more," Nets interim coach Tony Brown said. "I just didn't think our starters got into the game as we wanted them to."

Brooklyn guard Shane Larkin scored a career-high 20 points, and Bojan Bogdanovic also scored 20. Sean Kilpatrick contributed 17 for the Nets, who heard boos after the final horn when their comeback fell short.

"We didn't go into the game ready," Bogdanovic said. "But in the end we fight. I'm disappointed again that we lost. I don't know what to say honestly."

NOTES: The Wizards with the closest connection to Kobe Bryant's career might be C Marcin Gortat, who played 53 minutes during the 2009 finals when the Orlando Magic lost in five games to the Lakers. Asked about Bryant, Gortat said: "A great player finishing, that's the greatest of all time. I was fortunate enough to be in his prime. He took one championship from me in 09. (Stuff) happens but he's a great player." ... Asked specifically for who was in his starting lineup, Washington coach Randy Wittman's response was: "We're going to put five guys out there." ... Brooklyn F Thomas Robinson (sore right knee) sat out after getting hurt Sunday. ... Washington G Marcus Thornton played with the Nets in the final two months of the 2013-14 season. Since leaving Brooklyn, he has faced the Nets while playing with four different teams.