NETS GAME NIGHT – #Nets @ #Bucks

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Updated: February 20, 2013

GAMENIGHT

Brooklyn Nets (32-22) @ Milwaukee Bucks (26-26)

Bradley center 8:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660AM

The Brooklyn Nets came away last night with another Joe Johnson game-winner in overtime to beat the Milwaukee Bucks 113-111. The game had everyone up in arms as the Nets once again squandered a 15 point lead and a terrific first half where they scored 61 points and only turned it over two times.  That great half was lost when they came out in the third and were outscored 30-19 and turned it over eight times.  The lead diminished quickly as Brandon Jennings made it his own personal shooting clinic on the Nets backcourt with 16 third quarter points.

Johnson (24 points, five rebounds and five assists) was able to salvage another “third quarter meltdown” for the Nets and come up huge once again in the clutch.  The Nets managed to stay close in the fourth with Deron Williams 19 points and nine assists to go with Andray Blatche’s 10 points and four rebounds in the fourth alone.

Joey Buckets took it upon himself to save the Nets in regulation when he hit a contested 3-pointer with one second remaining and repeated that performance in overtime when he hit a foul line jumper over Luc Mbah a Moute to send the Barclays Center crowd home in a frenzy.

Joe Johnson celebration after gamewinner vs Bucks

@beyondthebuzzer

[quote_box]”It means a lot,” Johnson said. “The coaches and the players really look forward to me in those clutch situations. My thing is I want to do the best job possible in not letting those guys down. I really try and focus to make the big shots. Don’t get me wrong, we do play through Deron in those late game stretches as well. You never know who is going to take the game-winning shot here to be honest.”[/quote_box]

The Nets were lucky to escape last night with a win as it covered up some glaring issues that need to be corrected.  The third quarter problems must be addressed for the Nets to have a chance to compete with the upper echelon teams in the NBA and they will be tested in the last 28 games.

The streak of losing 13 straight games to the Bucks ended last night with Johnson’s shot but the turnover problems continue and they wont be so lucky tonight it it continues.  Jennings will need to be kept in check and the rebounding must be a priority for the Nets to win both ends of this home-and-home.

Game is on YES at 8PM.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Deron Williams  vs Brandon Jennings

Jennings had 34 points Tuesday and has killed the Nets recently averaging 29.8 points and sinking 19 of 35 from 3-point range over his last five games.  The display he put on Williams last night in the third quarter was alarming and something that has occurred way too much this year.  Williams has a hard time staying with small guards when he is healthy and right now playing with ankle problems opens up another big game for Jennings tonight in the rematch.  Williams must match his scoring for the Nets to have a chance at back-to-back wins after losing 13 in a row to the Bucks.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: Johnson has hit eight of nine shot attempts in games divided by three points or less and with 30 seconds remaining or less, according to NBA.com.

 

Nets:

NONE

Bucks:

Marquis Daniels  (illness) is questionable

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