Rockets edge out the Nets at home 112-106

The Nets went into Saturday’s game with the Houston Rockets on a two game win streak and looking to make it three but would have to do it without their All Star Deron Williams as he sat this one out with a calf strain. This would be only the second game all year that the injury riddled Nets would take the court without #8 leading the way and that put a lot of pressure on Jordan Farmar to handle the team. The Nets started the game slow as usual and they couldn’t seem to find any defensive intensity in the first half and gave up 59 points at half and almost 60% shooting to the visiting Rockets and were down 59-50. The rookie MarShon Brooks kept the Nets in the game in the first half along with the all around good play of newly acquired Gerald Green as each had double digits in the half.

The second half was much better for the Nets as the defense decided to show up and they made a nice run behind Green (26pts) and a 23-11 run that was highlighted by the Dunk of the Year which was an amazing windmill jam off a perfect lob from Brooks (23pts) The crowd went into a frenzy as no one could believe they just saw Green look down into the basket and throw it down with such force. The rest of the Nets benched jumped up in amazement and it seemed to help fire the team up even more.

“I caught it and I was thinking that I was high enough to windmill it,” said Green, “I usually do that pre-warmup or practice. Teammates tell me, ‘Next time you dunk, try to do something nasty.’ I’m just glad it went in.”

The Rockets kept coming following the lead of Goran Dragic and ex-Net Courtney Lee to hang in during the Nets run and were able to continue their hot shooting to get the game to 106-105 Nets leading with 2:07 remaining. That is where the wheels came off for the Nets as Gerald Green tipped the ball into his own basket trying to grab a rebound and the Nets didn’t score another point after that. The game was quite the battle even though both teams did not have their starting point guards and the Rockets were able to stop a 5 game losing streak with the win.

The Nets schedule gets a bit “easier” now with 8 out of the next 10 games at home and a chance to make a bit of a run

The Nets next game is Monday 3/12 at the Prudential Center as they host the Milwaukee Bucks @7:30

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