Nets grind out a win against 76ers; Snap three game losing streak

Photo Credit: Jim McIsaac 

After losing a heart-breaker to the Indiana Pacers, the Nets found themselves on a three game losing streak after playing their best month of basketball this season. With the Philadelphia 76ers (15-34) coming to town, the Nets had a chance to use the third worst team in the league as a way to get back to their winning ways. The Nets' late-game defense was what sealed this one for them in a close game, as they took out Philly 108-102.

It looked like Brooklyn was going to clobber the 76ers to start the game. They got off to a quick 19-4 run to start the game, but Philly picked up the pace to cut the Nets' 15 point lead down to eight. That lead would soon disappear completely in the second quarter, where the 76ers went off on a 19-7 run of their own, which allowed them to take a seven point lead. It didn't last long, though, as the Nets responded with a 15-4 run to end the half, putting them up 54-49 at halftime.

The Nets didn't take their foot off the gas after halftime. They went on to extend their run to 24-6, which put them up double-digits once again. It was Kevin Garnett's intensity and Deron Williams' star-like effort in the third quarter that allowed Brooklyn to take an eventual 19 point lead. Williams would finish the game with 21 points and six assists on the night.

The 76ers began chipping away at the Nets' lead in the fourth when Jason Kidd put out a lineup of Teague/Terry/Pierce/Teletovic/Evans, and Philly found themselves back in the game trailing by just two with 3:30 left to play. If it wasn't for Mirza Teletovic's hot shooting from behind the three point line in the fourth quarter, the 76ers would have taken the lead once again. Teletovic was a main factor tonight for the Nets, and he finished with 20 points while hitting five three pointers.

It was the Nets' ability to get into the passing lanes that played a huge role in their win tonight. They forced Philly to turn the ball over 25 times, which is the most the Nets have forced all year. The main defensive story of the night, though, was Kevin Garnett. He finished with a season-high five blocks, and that put him at 2,001 for his career. The importance of his blocked shots is that three of them came in the closing minutes of the game, so KG is proving to still be an elite defender down low, even if he has lost a step.

Shaun Livingston, once again, was the player of the game for the Nets. He finished with a full stat line of 12 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and a career high seven steals. He's been a huge bright spot for the Nets this season, and looks to be showing the potential he had before suffering his gruesome knee injury.

With the Nets' all-star Joe Johnson out with knee soreness, Paul Pierce really stepped up tonight, as he finished the game with a game-high 25 points on 5/9 shooting and 14/14 from the free throw line.

Final Score: 108-102 NETS
Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: Alan Anderson 1/8 from the field.
Promising Stat of the Game: Kevin Garnett five blocks/ Shaun Livingston seven steals
Scariest Moment of the Game: Philly taking a seven point lead in the second quarter
Best Moment of the Game: Shaun Livingston poster on Evan Turner

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