Nets 101 –  Hornets 97

Joe Johnson did not play for the third straight game with a sore left heel.  Deron Williams started hot and so do the Nets as they grab a 9-2 lead on 4-for-4 shooting.  Gerald Wallace energized the Nets with five points, a trey and two boards to start the game and Nets up 17-8.  Brook Lopez and Williams each have 10 and the Nets playing extremely well in the first.  Great start for Williams, who is 6-for-8 for 14 points as Nets lead 31-20 after one. Lopez has 10 points, two rebounds and a block.  Everything was falling early for the Nets as they are shooting lights out at 73% (14-19) while Hornets are shooting 40% (8-20).

The second quarter Nets lineup: C.J. Watson, MarShon Brooks, Keith Bogans, Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche.  The Nets are dominating the boards. They’ve got 16 rebs (5 off 11 def) vs eight rebounds (4 offensive 4 defensive) for Hornets. Reggie Evans leads with four rebounds.  The Nets match their biggest lead of the game with an Blatche layup. Nets up 16 pts, 38-22 early second quarter.   Blatche hit another layup and tearing up the Hornets with six points, a block and two boards in second. Nets up 49-29 late second.  Williams 7-11 with 20 points. Nets shot 63 percent for the half.  One of the best first half’s the Nets have had all season, leading by 22 at one point and up 57-41 at the half.

[quote_box]P.J. – Deron was unbelievable, down the stretch with shots and also with free throws, getting himself open. They had to follow him. Deron has had many games like this.[/quote_box]

The second half started with Williams having his right hand was stepped on and he comes out of the game.   Grievis Vasquez dished to  Anthony Davis lays it up and in. He stays hot with two blocks, four pts and a steal in third.  Hornets losing 66-55 middle,third quarter.  Nets looking sluggish and fouling for no reason allowing the Hornets back in the game.  Davis left the game after injuring his left shoulder when Lopez came down on him.  Lopez having a great third quarter with defense, passing, scoring, and rebounding. Has 14 points six boards, five assists, and four blocks so far. Nets up 71-59 with two to play and have 22 assists already tonight.  In typical Nets fashion they lose the third 24-16 and go into the fourth only up 73-65 after leading by 22 points earlier.  Backcourt of Williams and Watson have 32 points going into the final quarter.

Nets trying to hold onto this one 81-71 with ten minutes to play.  Bogans with another big three, 3-3 from the field, 2-2 from 3, also had one that didn’t count after the whistle.  Nets are dominating from 3-pt land. They’ve shot 10-17 (58%) from three vs 1-7 (14%) for Hornets.  Williams leads with 3-6 (50%).  Lopez came into the fourth with five minutes to play to try and help the Nets deal this victory.  With a quick 9-3 run, Hornets cut the Nets lead to 4 points, 84-80.  Close game.  Williams  is 2-for-11 since the first quarter.  Neither team can get the ball in the hoop, combining for just 11 pt in the last five minutes. Nets lead Hornets 88-82, with 1:40 left.  Williams with a huge 3-pointer and two free throws to give the Nets a five point lead with .19 to play.  Williams scored the Nets last 11 points to win the game 101-97.
[quote_box]P.J. – I like the challenge of it but its really hard to lead coast to coast but we almost did. We had a big lead early and never lost it and its not an easy thing to do.[/quote_box]

Leaders

Points – Williams 33
Rebounds – Lopez  7
Assists – Williams 8

GAME CHANGER: Deron Williams looked like the guy from Utah tonight and had a bounce to his step.  He started hot and had 20 first half points and struggled in the second half but hit a dagger 3-pointer with less than a minute to play and drained four big free throws to salt the game away.

STAT OF THE GAME: Kris  Humphries now has 2,000 defensive rebounds for his career and 3,000 total rebounds.