Nuggets 108 – Nets 119

Brook Lopez showed up with a fresh and clean shaven cut for this last game prior to his first All-Star appearance.  C.J. Watson looked much more confident and hit his first shot along with a three and assisted on a Joe Johnson three as well.  Gerald Wallace was active on offense and did his best to contain Kenneth Faried and his energy. Nets up 13-10 halfway through the first.  Balanced scoring from both teams in the first quarter.  Javale McGee had two monster dunks in the first to fire up Denver.  The Nets went cold for a bit and dropped to 40 percent from the field and turned it over three times in the first to end trailing 26-23.

Tyshawn Taylor looked very good getting into the paint and setting up teammates for good shots. He banked in a 3-pointer early in the second.  The Nets hit 6-out-8 from three point range to start in the game.  Jordan Hamilton hit for nine points as the Nuggets stayed close to Brooklyn.  Lopez had a big half scoring 14 points and grabbing three rebounds.  The Nets only turned it over four times and three Nets were in double figures, Lopez, Humphries and Watson at half while Denver had seven players with at least five points.   The pace was way to quick for the Nets but they hung in and shot 50 percent and hit 9-14 from deep to lead 62-55 at the break.

[quote_simple]P.J. – Anytime you beat Denver…..anytime you beat George (Karl) it is a hell of a win. I am very very pleased with these two and it is a great way to go into the break but more importantly it is a great way to bounce back from that San Antonio game.[/quote_simple]

Brooklyn opened the second half on a 14-4 run to take a 76-61 lead behind great 3-point shooting and Watson having his best game of the year shooting it. Johnson was feeling it and hitting jumper after jumper to extend the lead. Wallace met Faried at the rim and denied a dunk that ignited the Nets further. The “Broook-lyn” chant was loud and proud as the Nets opened the lead to 89-69. Nets up 95-81 after three quarters on 54.4 percent shooting and 14-for-22 from deep.  Watson had 19 points, Johnson with 24 and Lopez 16 to carry the Nets.

Johnson continued the hot shooting with multiple buckets to start the fourth and help the Nets try to hold off the Nuggets. Turnovers became a factor in the early part of the final quarter and the Nuggets made a run to get it to 101-94.  The 3-point barrage continued for Brooklyn with Taylor, Watson and Johnson all hitting to fend off the relentless Nuggets.  The game was 112-99 with four important minutes remaining for the Nets to grab a solid victory.  Lopez scored five straight points for the Nets to put some distance between the teams 117-106.  Behind their best shooting (55 percent field goal and 59 percent from three) the Nets were able to get one of their best victories of the year 119-108.  The numbers were staggering and Lopez ended with 23 points and eight rebounds, Johnson had 26 points and a season-high nine assists while Watson shot 5-7 from three point range to get 25 points.

Denver’s Ty Lawson did everything possible to bring the Nuggets back into the game and scored 26 points and dished out nine assists to go with Andre Miller’s 10 assists.

GAME CHANGER: With Deron Williams out, CJ Watson came to play tonight and had his best game of the year with 25 points (5-7 from three), six assists and only one turnover leading the hot shooting Nets to their highest point total of the year 119 points.  The 26 points were Watson’s highest point total since November 26, 2010 when he hit for 33 points.

STAT OF THE GAME: The Nets scored 39 points in the second quarter which was a season high for a quarter.