Wizards 101 –  Nets 106

The Nets decided to rest their starters tonight minus Gerald Wallace who is coming off an injury and needs some time.  This would be a great game for the Bench Mob to get rolling with C.J. Watson, MarShon Brooks, Wallace, Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche getting the start.  Wizards started hot going 6-for-9 for a quick 16-7 lead on Brooklyn.  Watson is shooting 52 percent from 3-point range since the All Star break.  Blatche hit his first two shots to start.  Cartier Martin hits his first three 3-pointers to give the Wizards a 22-9 lead midway through the first.  Nets showing ZERO resistance and allowing the Wizards to do anything they wanted and hold a 30-15 lead with three to play.  Kris Joseph, Mirza Teletovic and Tyshawn Taylor checked in for Brooklyn.  Wizards shot 70 percent going 14-20 to lead 34-21 after one quarter.

Toko Shengelia starts the second quarter and brings some energy.  Nets start the second on an 10-4 run behind Mirza and brings the Wizards lead to 38-29 with nine to play.  Nets being out rebounded 16-7 so far and getting beat down court. Wizards up 42-33.  Toko with the jam off a Mirza miss to ignite the crowd.  Defense finally showed up behind Toko and the Nets get to within 46-37 midway through second.  Tons of missed shots by Brooklyn to go with horrible defense made Jan Vesely look like an All-Star with three alley oops in first half alone. Wizards up 52-44 with two to play.  Blatche trying his best to get the Nets back in it but not getting the calls. Wizards with 16 assists to the Nets 6 assists so far.  Blatche with the circus shot to end the half and the Nets pull to within 56-50 at half.  Blatche and Brooks with 10 and Humphries with 11 points.  Wizards shot 64 percent for the half.

[blockquote]PJ on Toko – The first thing you are always going to say about him is how hard he plays – he competes.  He plays so hard and makes things happen defensively and rebounds and just does good things and its great.  It is fitting that he was the first one to put us ahead with that coast to coast.  It was a big play.[/blockquote]

Blatche started the second half just like the first with a jumpshot.  Watson hit his second 3-pointer to pull Nets to within 62-59 with eight to play.  Wizards bench has been key. They have more points 22-13 and more assists 6-0 than Nets bench. Led by Kevin Seraphin with 12 points and 5 boards.  John Wall continues to push the pace and the Nets aren’t stopping him. Wizards up 69-61 midway third.  Wallace is having a bad game. He’s got 2 points (1-3 FG), 2 assists and a steal in 24 minutes and 0-3 from free throw line.  Nets 4-13 from charity stripe.  Horrible. Toko back in and immediately impacts the game going to the basket. Brooklyn with 13 offensive rebounds so far but still losing 75-68 with three to play in third.  Nets on an 8-2 to end quarter behind Toko. Wizards up 77-73 after three.

Humphries has played well on both ends with 17 points, 9 boards and a steal.   Brooklyn has 10 steals tonight so far.  Humphries doing his best to keep Nets in the game, 85-80 Wizards with nine to play. Toko is everywhere blocking shots and running the break.  Mirza with a 3-pointer to gets Nets to 89-87.  Young guys getting it done but Nets can’t hit free throws.  Taylor with a 3-pointer  – Wizards 92-91 with five to play.  Toko with his first double-double if career with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Nets lead 95-94.  Mirza hits the three ball to give the Nets a 101-98 lead with 2:30 to play in a crazy Barclays Center.  Blatche hits a huge and one to get the Nets to 103-101 with a minute to play.  The rookie Taylor hits a huge 3-pointer with .23 left up 106-101.  Nets win a thriller in Brooklyn.

[blockquote]PJ – It’s really good that some guys got to play that don’t really get to play.  They played hard and dug a hole early and they kept plugging.  At times our defense was lousy but we made some stops in the fourth quarter and they were working.  We were getting hammered on the boards but climbed back in and ended up with a plus. Guys played hard and it was nice to see.[/blockquote]

SEASON SERIES 3-1

01/04 – BKN 115 @ WAS 113

02/08 – BKN 74 @ WAS 89

03/08 – WAS 78 @ BKN 95

04/15 – WAS 101 @ BKN 106

LEADERS:

Points – Humphries/Blatche – 20

Rebounds – Blatche – 12

Assists – Taylor – 3

STAT OF THE NIGHT: The Nets had a season high 13 steals and and opposite horrible day at the free throw line going 13-27.

GAMECHANGER: Toko Shengelia changed the game with his energy and effort in the second and kept it up right through the fourth. First double-double of his career with 11 points and 11 rebounds to go with a block and a steal in 25 minutes.

BOXSCORE REPLAY