It's been a while since the Nets have played this well. In fact, this is the Nets best start to a season in 10 years. Tonight they took on a lowly Sacramento Kings team that had lost four in a row while the Nets have won four in a row. This game was the return of Gerald Wallace, who missed the last seven games with a sprained ankle and a bone bruise. His minutes were limited tonight, but his presence was felt every time he was on the floor. Both teams started the game off playing very sloppy. Both teams struggled to score the ball efficiently and the ball movement was poor. The Nets defense really struggled in the first quarter as they allowed Sacramento to get off to a 10-0 run and at one point fell behind 16-8. Brook Lopez had his usual first quarter success scoring eight points and grabbing three rebounds. Deron Williams continued to dish out assists with 6 in the first quarter alone. He would finish with 14 points and 10 assists.
The bench was a key to the win tonight. Andray Blatche came out firing early as he finished the first half with 18 points on 10/10 shooting and finished the game with 22 points. C.J. Watson also contributed largely as he put up 13 points, nailing four of his seven three point attempts. The Nets' bench absolutely destroyed when they were on the floor putting up more than half the total points scored the whole game, 52. The whole team broke out in the second quarter as they outscored the Kings 33-22 as they shot 53%. It seemed as if they were getting any shot they wanted the whole quarter. The Nets finished the half on a 13-2 run.
The second half was a typical Nets second half. Coming into the third quarter, they held a 12 point lead. That immediately disappeared and became a two point lead. Joe Johnson continued to struggle shooting the ball. He finished the game with 10 points, but shot only 1/10 from the field. Shots were being rushed and they began to start chucking up shots for a few minutes in the third. Brook Lopez really stepped up his defense in the second half as he had three of his four blocked shots. That marks five straight games with at least three blocks and three straight games with four blocks for Lopez. The biggest story of the second half was that the Nets defense couldn't stop DeMarcus Cousins. He scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half. Other contributions for the Kings came from Tyreke Evans, who had 21 points and seven rebounds and Marcus Thornton with 12 points.
The thing that stuck out in the fourth quarter was how truly bad the officiating was. They missed an offensive interference call when Thomas Robinson took the ball right off the rim for a put back dunk, and also missed a goaltending call on a MarShon Brooks shot. After that, Brooks began to go off. He backpacked the Nets through the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points off the bench. This win put the Nets on a five game win streak and push them to 6-2 on the season. This is a very different Nets team and it shows with how they are able to pull out wins. They continue to blow halftime leads in the third quarter, which is something they really need to work on if they are going to beat other good teams.
Final Result: 99-90 Nets
Disappointing Stat of the Game: Joe Johnson 1/10 from the field
Promising Stat of the Game: Andray Blatche 22 points on 11/12 shooting.
Scary Moment of the Game: Sacramento cutting the lead to 2 in the third.
Best Moment of the Game: Kris Humphries steal leading to wide open dunk.
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The second half was a typical Nets second half. Coming into the third quarter, they held a 12 point lead. That immediately disappeared and became a two point lead. Joe Johnson continued to struggle shooting the ball. He finished the game with 10 points, but shot only 1/10 from the field. Shots were being rushed and they began to start chucking up shots for a few minutes in the third. Brook Lopez really stepped up his defense in the second half as he had three of his four blocked shots. That marks five straight games with at least three blocks and three straight games with four blocks for Lopez. The biggest story of the second half was that the Nets defense couldn't stop DeMarcus Cousins. He scored 23 of his 29 points in the second half. Other contributions for the Kings came from Tyreke Evans, who had 21 points and seven rebounds and Marcus Thornton with 12 points.
The thing that stuck out in the fourth quarter was how truly bad the officiating was. They missed an offensive interference call when Thomas Robinson took the ball right off the rim for a put back dunk, and also missed a goaltending call on a MarShon Brooks shot. After that, Brooks began to go off. He backpacked the Nets through the fourth quarter and finished with 14 points off the bench. This win put the Nets on a five game win streak and push them to 6-2 on the season. This is a very different Nets team and it shows with how they are able to pull out wins. They continue to blow halftime leads in the third quarter, which is something they really need to work on if they are going to beat other good teams.
Final Result: 99-90 Nets
Disappointing Stat of the Game: Joe Johnson 1/10 from the field
Promising Stat of the Game: Andray Blatche 22 points on 11/12 shooting.
Scary Moment of the Game: Sacramento cutting the lead to 2 in the third.
Best Moment of the Game: Kris Humphries steal leading to wide open dunk.
Follow @NetsTakeOver
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