VIDEO – Nets Recap: #Pacers 86 – #Nets 97

Pacers 86 – Nets 97

The Nets came into tonight with something to prove and put their five game win streak on the line with the streaking Indiana Pacers. They came out and played well to start but had a bunch of defensive lapses as Reggie Evans was being eaten alive by David West in the first quarter.

PJ Carlesimo made a great coaching move that changed the game when he put Kris Humphries on David West and put Evans on the bench. They were outscored and out-executed badly in the second quarter and ended the half being down 49-46.

image by @CKCash30

The Pacers were methodically working the ball inside to West and Roy Hibbert and the lead grew to 12 points with just over a quarter to play. Brook Lopez was silent through three quarters and was outplayed by Hibbert to that point.

The fourth quarter started and something went off in the Nets heads and they ran off a 17-0 run behind the great all around play of Deron Williams and the awakening of Lopez. Joe Johnson chimed in an they all played great defense in the quarter and held the Pacers to 11 points to the Nets 28 points.

Johnson ended the game with 20 points to go with five rebounds and three assists and Lopez ended up with a solid 15 points, nine rebounds and two blocks. Williams was the player of the game with 22 points, nine assists and five rebounds while being hobbled with a sore quad.

Nets win a big conference game against a good opponent and let the NBA know that they are back and are now 8-1 under Carlesimo. They are scoring 101.8 points per game compared to 94.5 points per game in 28 games under Avery Johnson.

Stat of the Night: Deron Williams has hit 31 straight free throws

The Nets continue their homestand Tuesday night when they host the Toronto Raptors at 7:30