Deron Williams returns; Nets get revenge on Knicks with a 103-80 win

Photo Credit: Yahoo! Sports

The Nets are back in the United States after blowing out the Hawks in London. They took to the road, and looked to seek revenge against the cross-town rival New York Knicks. After getting blown out by New York by 30 in the first match-up this season, the Nets handled the Knicks in game two of the four-game season series. Brooklyn took the game 103-80, and are now 7-1 since the start of 2014.

The first half was really all Nets on both sides of the ball. The defense held the Knicks to just 33.3 percent shooting from the field, and 30 percent shooting from three. On offense, the Nets shot the ball at a 51.2 percent clip, but they shot just 35.3 percent from behind the three point line. Brooklyn led 52-38 at halftime. 

In that first half, the Nets made 21 field goals and 15 of those made shots came off of an assist. The game wasn't really as close as the scoreboard said it was at halftime. The reason the Knicks aren't down 20+ points is simply because they shot 13-20 from the free throw line at half alone. The Nets, on the other hand, attempted just six free throws, making four of them. Joe Johnson was at it again in the first half today, as he went to the locker room with 20 halftime points. This is the third game out of the last four in which Johnson had 20+ points at halftime, including 26 points against both the Heat and the Hawks. 

It looked like the Nets were going to choke the lead away in the third quarter, but the held strong and kept the Knicks from cutting the lead to anything closer than eight points. The Brooklyn offense slowed down a bit, but the defense didn't as they held the Knicks to less than 20 points in the third quarter, just like they did in the first. 

It would be unfair to say the Nets dominated the second half, just as they did the first. But the lead grew to 21 in the fourth quarter, and it was pretty much game over from there. Andray Blatche simply took over in the fourth quarter, and looked somewhat like Joe Johnson while doing it. His shot clock buzzer-beating three pointer gave the Nets a 21 point lead. Blatche finished the game with 19 points and 12 rebounds in 27 minutes on the floor. 

In his return to the court after getting PRP treatment on his ankles, Deron Williams played a very solid 27 minutes, putting up 13 points and dishing out three assists. This was his first time playing since the Nets took down the Cavaliers on January 4th. 

After his hot start to the game, Joe Johnson finished with just 25 points, but grabbed six rebounds and dished out five assists, all in just 30 minutes played. 

Kevin Garnett has also been doing his thing lately. He finished with six points and six rebounds, but he played just 18 minutes. We're seeing a different Garnett in the 2014 portion of the season, and he showed tonight that he has found the confidence he needed to hit shots. He finished tonight shooting 3/4 from the field. KG is shooting 65.5 percent in the month of January after shooting just 37 percent in November and December combined.

Final Score: 103-80 NETS 
Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: NONE
Promising Stat of the Game: Nets assisting on 25 of 37 made field goals
Scariest Moment of the Game: Knicks cutting lead to single digits in third quarter 
Best Moment of the Game: Andray Blatche hitting a shot clock buzzer-beating three 

Follow @NetsTakeOver