Nets at Timberwolves Recap: Big Three Performing Well

The Nets traveled to Minnesota to take on a Timberwolves team that has recently been struck with the injury bug. With both Kevin Love and Nikola Pekovic sitting out, the Nets looked to have the clear advantage in the paint. But the rest of the game was less than impressive. The Nets ended up winning 91-83.

Brooklyn came out firing to start the game and went on a 10-0 run out of the gate. Joe Johnson and Brook Lopez combined to score the Nets first 18 points. Then things started to let up. Minnesota would stop the offensive onslaught that the Nets were putting on and held them to just 24 first quarter points. They themselves would put up 17 after an extremely slow start. The Nets allowed Minnesota to stay in the game by making poor decisions on both ends of the floor. Turnovers were an issue, as they have been all season. They finished the game with 14 total. In the second quarter, the Nets offense caught fire and put up 29 points. The score would be 53-42 going into halftime.

Most believed that the Nets had shaken their third quarter struggles off from earlier in the season. But tonight they showed that the issues are still there. They put up just 15 points on 6-20 shooting. Minnesota got off to a 10-0 run to pull the score tighter. After at one point trailing by 14, the Timberwolves had cut the lead down to just two at one point. But the Nets would respond. C.J. Watson came off the bench and put up great scoring numbers. He finished the game with 14 on 6-8 shooting including 2-3 from three point territory. His scoring wasn't the only factor, though. His tenacity facing up against Minnesota's Jose Juan Barea was a key to the game. He put Barea in foul trouble withing just a few minutes, forcing him to commit five fouls in a matter of three minutes during the fourth quarter.

Brook Lopez had an excellent game finishing with 22 points, seven rebounds, and two blocked shots. He continues to prove to everybody that he belongs in Houston this February for the All-Star Game. Joe Johnson also contributed a good performance putting up 18 points on 8-16 shooting. Deron Williams continued his stellar play in the month of January with an 18 point, eight assist performance. That's 58 combined points coming from the Nets' big three.

With this win, the Nets advance to 12-2 under interim Head Coach P.J. Carlesimo, and also advance to 26-16 on the season.

Final Score: 91-83 Nets
Most Disappointing Stat of The Game:  Nets shooting 44% from the field
Promising Stat of The Game: 58 points from Deron, Joe, and Brook.
Scary Moment of The Game: Minnesota trimming the lead to 2.
Best Moment of the Game: Deron Williams ankle-breaker on Luke Ridnour

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