NETS GAMENIGHT: #Suns @ #Nets

PHOENIX SUNS (38-28) @ BROOKLYN NETS (33-31)

Barclays Center 7:30

TV: YES  RADIO: WFAN 660/101.9FM

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NETS STARTERS
The starting lineup will be  Deron Williams playing alongside  Shaun Livingston in the backcourt with  Joe Johnson and Paul Pierce up front and the man in the middle Mason Plumlee.

The Nets blew a double digit lead a couple of times on Saturday night before they went stone cold in the fourth quarter to lose to the Wizards 101-94 in Washington.

Brooklyn did not score a single point in the final 4:26 of the game and it cost them a season sweep at the hands of the Wizards.

Marcus Thornton did his part with 19 points in only 22 minutes to give the Nets a chance to steal the win but it was not to be.

Mason Plumlee will likely start against his brother Miles tonight for the first time.

Kevin Garnett will miss a ninth straight game due to back spasms.

SUNS STARTERS

The Suns starting lineup will be Goran Dragic and Eric Bledsoe in the backcourt with PJ Tucker, Channing Frye and  Miles Plumlee playing in the frontcourt.

The Suns will try to use the momentum from beating the Raptors to snap a four-game losing streak against the Nets, including a heartbreaking 100-98 overtime loss on Nov. 15 in Phoenix.

Dragic has averaged 25 points and 11 assists in the last two meeting with Brooklyn which were both losses although he is playing at an MVP level for Phoenix and has them in the mix in the West.

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Game Notes:

The Nets have won eight straight games at home and hold the longest current home winning streaks in the NBA (eight games) with Houston.

Brooklyn has won four straight games against the Suns.

The Nets are 14-11 this season vs. Western Conference teams, including a 10-3 mark since Jan. 1.

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[quote_simple]WHAT TO LOOK FOR

Pick up the pieces

The Nets blew a golden opportunity to put some space between themselves and Washington when they went cold in the fourth quarter and let the game get away in the final minutes.

Deron Williams struggled to find his shot again and is 6 for 22 in his last two games after starting out last game with 12 points at halftime.

This team will only go as far as Williams will take them so he needs to be a leader and help Brooklyn pick up the pieces of the horrid fourth quarter Saturday night and extend their eight game winning streak at home tonight against the Suns.

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[box]INJURY REPORT

NETS

Kevin Garnett – GTD (back spasms)

Brook Lopez  – OUT (ankle)

SUNS

Emeka Okafor – OUT (herniated disc)

Leandro Barbosa – OUT (left hand fracture)

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