GAMENIGHT

Brooklyn Nets (33-24) @ New Orleans Hornets (20-37)

New orleans Arena 8:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660 AM/101.9 FM

After a four-game win streak the Brooklyn Nets have now lost two in a row to the Western Conference with losses to Houston and Memphis this past weekend.  The Nets were in position to catch rival New York for first place in the Atlantic with a victory on Friday but could not come through against the Rockets. The Knicks are now two games ahead of the Nets with the loss to Memphis and the Knicks win over Philadelphia.

The Nets played without Joe Johnson for the first time because of plantar fasciitis in his left foot and he will be a game-time decision tonight when they visit the New Orleans Hornets.  Johnson has been sorely missed and the last loss to the Grizzlies was a prefect example of where he excels.  Johnson has a league-best 23 points on 7-of-8 shooting in the last 24 seconds of a final quarter with the game within three points.
[quote_box]”It’s hard for me sitting here and watching,” Johnson said. “You always can look at a game and think, ‘I could have made a difference in that game’.”[/quote_box]

The Hornets have been struggling recently trying to get a healthy Eric Gordon into the mix and lost three straight before Anthony Davis led the way with 20 points and eight rebounds in a 110-95 win over Sacramento Sunday.  Davis is not blowing anyone away with his stats (13 points and 8 rebounds) but he is making himself a problem for visiting teams with his defense and shot blocking ability.  Gordon (17 ppg) is starting to show signs of being the player he was prior to his knee problems but he has along way to go.  If Johnson can play tonight it will be  fun to see both go at each other.

MATCHUP OF THE GAME: Deron Williams  vs Greivis Vasquez

Deron Williams has put together two back-to-back  good games and helped lead the Nets with his scoring and leadership in Johnson’s absence.  Williams dropped 15 points and had 13 assists in the Rockets loss and 24 points and four assists in a low scoring battle with Memphis on Sunday.  Williams will have to up to the task tonight and be ready to deal with another big point guard like himself.  Greivis Vasquez is averaging 13.6 points, 9.5 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game this season which is nearly twice his previous career averages.  Vasquez is running the team nicely and doing his best to turn himself into a legit point guard in the NBA.  This matchup will be one to watch for sure.

STAT FOR TONIGHT: Hornets C Robin Lopez is twin brothers with Nets C Brook Lopez. The two twins played basketball together in high school and collegiately at Stanford before both being drafted in
the 2008 NBA Draft.

Nets:

Joe Johnson (sore heel, plantar fasciitis) is questionable

Jerry Stackhouse (personal reasons) is not with the team

Hornets:

None