Hornets 98 – Nets 108

The game started out ugly with missed shots all over the place. Somehow the Nets took an 11-4 lead while shooting 4-14. Reggie Evans had 5 offensive rebounds in the first six minutes. Brook Lopez had seven points and he was getting to the line early for Nets, hitting 3-3 free throws. Nets led Hornets 17-11, late first quarter. Nets shot 10 free throws in the first compared to four for the Hornets. Nets up 28-19 after one. Lopez with 12 points to lead all scorers. Reggie Evans with 8 boards.

The Bench Mob came in and allowed a Hornets 10-0 run before they brought back Deron Williams. Nets 28-27 in a bad display of defense. Williams has made 12 of the last 17 3-pointers he has taken in Barclays Center and helped them regain control 38-29 with seven to play. The second unit settled down and put a run together to build the lead to 47-33. Andray Blatche had a great quarter with 12 points. Nets lead 57-48 at half.

Both teams came out of half slow and missed a ton of shots like the beginning of the game. The Hornets went on a 9-0 run to get back into it. Eric Gordon hit a big free throw and energized the Hornets with a trey, 4 points and an assist to start third. Hornets trail Nets 64-58. A huge dunk by Lopez on his brother got the crowd into a frenzy. Hornets 9-0 run again tied the game at 78. Blatche hit at the horn to give Nets slim 80-78 lead after three quarters of play.

[blockquote]PJ – Gerald (Wallace) played aggressively and had big rebounds for us and he made Gordon work. That’s what you want him to do. Four wins in five days is very very difficult and we are still mulling letting one get away. [/blockquote]

MarShon Brooks started the fourth with a jumper and the foul to extend lead to five. Williams continued his assault off the dribble and led the Nets to a 90-81 lead with nine to play. Lopez and Blatche got some court time together and it hurt the Hornets inside with a total of 44 points and 10 rebounds. The lead grew to 104-90 with just under three to play as Williams and Blatche couldn’t be stopped. Free throws for the Nets ended the game and sent New Orleans home with a 108-98 loss.

Brook Lopez had 26 points and five rebounds while Deron Williams add 21 points and another 13 big assists.

LEADERS:

Points – Lopez 26

Rebounds – Evans 13

Assists – Williams 13

GAME CHANGER: The second quarter started bad for Brooklyn as the Bench Mob turned it over on multiple trips to allow New Orleans to get within three points and Carlesimo inserted Deron Williams in place of Tyshawn Taylor and the Nets regained the momentum and a six point lead.

STAT OF THE GAME: The Nets grabbed 19 offensive rebounds and outrebounded New Orleans 42-31.