Wizards 78 – Nets 95

The Nets opened up hot with Brook Lopez hitting a jumpshot to start things followed by three consecutive 3-pointers by the rejuvenated Deron Williams to take an 11-0 lead three minutes in. The Wizards finally scored and then Williams went nuts and hit three more from long range to ignite the crowd at Barclays Center going 6-6 for 18 points in six minutes. Nets up 22-2.  Nets are dominating from 3-pt land where they’ve shot 7-7  from three vs 0-4 for Wizards.  Williams leads with 7-7.  Amazing first quarter for Brooklyn shouting 56 percent and 87.5 from deep behind Williams 23 first quarter points and Reggie Evans 9 rebounds. Nets lead 38-14.

The Nets started the second with 3 straight turnovers but kept the pressure on defense to keep the lead above 20.  The Bench Mob came in with Mirza Teletovic getting early run and MarShon Brooks pushing the pace.  Nets up 41-18 after Wizards timeout.  Both teams struggled to hit shots and then Williams re-entered the game to hit another three to go 8-8 from behind arc to extend lead to 46-21 with five to play.  Williams now has 30 points on 11-or-13 shooting in the first half.  Nets are dominating the boards. They’ve got 29 rebounds (5 off 24 def) vs 17 rebounds (6 off 11 def) for Wizards.  Evans leads with 13 rebounds. Williams hit one more from long range to bring his total to an NBA record for a half of 9. Nets up 59-33 at half with Williams hitting for 33 points.

[blockquote]P.J. on Deron – He was unbelievable. He just kept making shot after shot after shot so he just got us such a cushion that the rest of the game just played out.[/blockquote]

Williams now has 10 3’s and is just 2 away from tying the NBA record for most 3’s in a game.  With a quick 7-1 run, Wizards cut the Nets lead to 21 pt, 65-44, early third. Wizards are running with 5 points on the break.  Just call Reggie Evans the Chairman of the Boards! He’s got 17 through mid third.  Williams is carrying the Nets offense with 37 points (13-17 FG), 10 treys and an assist. Nets are winning 68-48, mid third. Ugly quarter for Brooklyn.  Nets are losing the turnover battle to Wizards, 14 to 6.   Horrible quarter for the Nets as they were outscored 25-15 to trim lead to 74-68 after three quarters of play.

Everyone has gotten so caught up in Williams (he still has 10 threes) that nobody realizes the Wizards are down by only 16 now.  Andray Blatche commits his 4th foul. He’s struggling with 2 fouls, a turnover and a miss in garbage time. Nets are winning 76-60, early fourth.   Nets up 17 pts, 80-63 mid fourth with a three by Teletovic.  Nets going small here, with Teletovic & Evans at the 4/5.  Evans snags rebound No. 24 and  is going to the line to a standing ovation! Where are we? With the game at 86-72 the Wizards started the Hack-a-Reggie and it worked for a while until he got two in a row.  Evans with 11 points and 24 massive rebounds. Williams hit his 11th 3-pointer late in this blowout to finish with 42 points as the Nets win  95-78.

A special night in Brooklyn for the Captain Deron Williams.

[blockquote]P.J. – We should have been able to rest starters more than we did and that’s the thing that disappoints me the most. But that’s being negative. Reggie being more aggressive with offensive rebounds is a great thing. I thought he was exceptional, not good but exceptional..[/blockquote]

LEADERS:
Points – Williams 42

Rebounds – Evans 24

Assists – Williams 5

GAME CHANGER: Deron Williams came out on fire and hit his first 7 three pointers in the first quarter to send the Nets out to a 22 -2 lead.

STAT OF THE GAME: Deron Williams set an NBA Record with 9 three pointers in the first half breaking the previous record of 8 make in a half held by eight different players.  A Magical night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.