NETS GAMENIGHT: #Nets (4-11) @ #Rockets (11-5)

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Updated: November 29, 2013

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Brooklyn Nets (4-11) @ Houston Rockets (11-5)

Toyota Center 8:00

TV: YES – RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9FM[/box]

[quote_simple]NETS STARTERS

The starting lineup will once again be limited with Shaun Livingston playing alongside Joe Johnson in the backcourt with Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett up front and the man in the middle Andray Blatche.

Injury News: 

The Nets reported that Andrei Kirilenko (back spasms) and Jason Terry (knee) will be out at least another week.  Deron Williams (ankle) did not travel on this mini road trip to Houston/Memphis and will be reevaluated on Monday.  Good news is that Brook Lopez (ankle) is a gametime decision and looks like he may play.

The Nets made a great comeback in the second half  against the Lakers, coming back from down 27, but they need to start better and not dig themselves such deep deficits to climb out of every game.

Pierce, who is currently shooting 37.6 percent from the field, needs to pick up his game and stop the bad late game turnovers for Brooklyn to have any chance tonight.

ROCKETS STARTERS

The Rockets starting lineup will be Patrick Beverly and Ronnie Brewer in the backcourt with Terence Jones,  Chandler Parsons and Dwight Howard playing in the frontcourt.

Houston has won six of its last seven games, winning the last three with their star James Harden out with a sore foot that will keep him out again tonight.

The Rockets bench with Francisco Garcia and Aaron Brooks is very potent as most saw when they both had 21 each off the bench in their win over Atlanta on Wednesday.  The 3-point shooting of the bench has been a factor early ion the season.

Jeremy Lin wont be playing tonight and for the next couple weeks as the Rockets announced he has a sprained knee.

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[quote_simple][box]Game Notes:

The Rockets have beaten the Nets 13 straight times dating to a loss on March 13, 2006.

The Nets have lost 18 of the past 21 road meetings, including six in a row while allowing 112.5 points.

The Nets are 2-1 in the first game of back-to-backs this season.

In the last game against the Lakers the Nets blocked a season-high 10 blocks as a team.

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[box]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Bringing back the “man in the middle”

Hopefully Lopez will play tonight and change the entire complexion of this Nets team to what is was supposed to be – inside out ball.Brook Lopez YES pic

Lopez leads the team with 20.5 points per game while adding 6.5 boards and 2.8 blocks per game so anyone can see why the Nets have struggled so mightily in his seven games missed.

He is the focal point to the offense and getting the ball to him early has always been the formula so if he does play other elements of the team will fall into place as well.  He will not allow the free runs to the hoop that we have seen all to many of while he was out.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Brook Lopez – GTD (sprained left ankle)

Andrei Kirilenko – OUT (back spasms)

Deron Williams – OUT (sprained left ankle)

Jason Terry – OUT (bruised left knee)

ROCKETS

Jeremy Lin – OUT (sprained knee)

James Harden – OUT (sore left back)

Craig Smith – OUT (sprained right knee)

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