Mavs 98 –  Nets 90

Gerald Wallace got the Nets off to good start with a made 3-pointer and a layup. Early on Brook Lopez was playing without his shoe when Chris Kaman stepped on his foot so Lopez tossed it into the crowd and kept playing.  Kaman hits another layup to tie the game 9-9. He energized with 6 points to start the game.  Joe Johnson started cold with a turnover, a foul and a miss to begin the game.  Mavs match their biggest lead of the game with an O.J. Mayo dunk in transition. Mavs up 18-13 late first quarter.  Deron Williams keeping Nets in the game with 7 pts (3-5 FG), two assists and a trey.  With a quick 8-0 run, Nets take a 21-20 lead against Mavs but have six turnovers. Mavs up 22-21 after one.

The Bench Mob started the second along with Johnson.  Andray Blatche continued his good play highlighted by a steal and alley oop to Johnson to bring the Barclays Center crowd into it.  Neither team is getting to the line early. Mavs have taken no FTs (0-0 FT) and Nets have taken no FTs (0-0 FT) in first 15 minutes of play.  Kris Humphries playing well with six early rebounds to go with Blatche eight points midway through second.  High FG% in this game. Nets are shooting lights out at 61% (16-26) and Mavs are shooting lights out at 56% (17-30). Lead changed 14 times and wevare tied at 43-43 with 3:20 left 1st half.  Nets dominating the boards. They’ve got 20 rebs (5 off 15 def) vs 9 rebs (1 off 8 def) for Mavs.  Nets lead 49-48 at half behind 17 from Williams.

Neither team can get the ball in the hoop, combining for just 10 pts, last five minutes. We’re tied at 52-52.  Mavs match their biggest lead of the game with an O.J. Mayo layup. Up 7 pts, 59-52 middle third.  14 turnovers for the Nets already in this game. Mavs have scored 14 points off those turnovers.  Mavs ran off a 13-5 run to begin third and match their biggest lead of the game with a Vince Carter jumper. Up 7 pts, 63-56.  Absolutely atrocious. Nets outscored 29-14 in the third quarter and trail 77-63 heading into the fourth with 14 turnovers.

[quote_box]PJ – The start of the third quarter was so poor and we just drifted back to what’s been a problem for us. When we don’t score, particularly when we turn it over we don’t play with the same kind of energy on the other end. We really didn’t play with defensive energy other than the fourth quarter. We were lucky. They missed shots in the first half.[/quote_box]

The Mavs started the fourth with back to back threes to extend the lead to 20 at 83-63.  Nets are losing the turnover battle to Mavs, 18 to 9.  Williams leads with 7 turnovers in 40 min.   With a 19-5 run in 5:58, Mavs take a 85-66 lead vs Nets, early fourth. This one might be over. Mavs hit 8 of 11 FGs.  Mirza Teletovic finds himself in the right place at the right time with a three and the Nets have a chance to cut the lead to 11 with 5:30 left.  Using a quick 12-4 run, Nets narrow the gap to 90-78 vs Mavs. It might be too little too late.   Nets are dominating the boards. They’ve got 43 rebs (11 off 32 def) vs 28 rebs (5 off 23 def) for Mavs. Evans leads with 11 rebounds.  C.J. Watson lays it up to cut the Mavs lead within 5 pts, 93-88 with 1:05 left. It’s not over yet.  Williams just missed from deep down 95-90 and it looks to be the last gasp for Brooklyn.  Nets comeback falls short, Mavs top Nets 98-90.

LEADERS:
Points – Williams 24

Rebounds – Evans 11

Assists – Johnson 6

GAME CHANGER: Mirza Teletovic came in and sparked the Nets in the fourth with his all around play. Big moment down 11, huge call, a 3-second violation on Lopez wiped out a Teletovic 3-pointer. Nets still down 11 rather than eight after call.

STAT OF THE GAME:  The Nets outrebounded the Mavs 44-31 but all of that was for nothing as they turned it over 19 times to seal their fate.