Nets' 15-game home win streak snapped by Hawks in 93-88 loss

There were two scenarios that could have gone down tonight. For starters, if the Nets lost to Atlanta and the Knicks lost to Toronto, the Knicks would be officially eliminated from playoff contention. On the other hand, if the Nets won and the Knicks beat the Raptors, Brooklyn would be just two games behind Toronto for the division lead with three games left to play.

It looked like the Nets were going to possibly throw this game to eliminate the Knicks by resting Deron Williams, Shaun Livingston, Alan Anderson, and Andray Blatche. But that wasn't necessarily the case, as the Hawks looked more like a team that didn't want to take the win. They eventually took the W, though, as they pulled out the win after a late-game battle with the Nets, snapping Brooklyn's 15-game home win streak.

Neither team looked interested in the game whatsoever in the first quarter, but the Hawks kicked it into a higher gear by out-scoring the Nets 39-24 in the second quarter on the backs of Jeff Teague and Paul Millsap, who would combine for 49 points for Atlanta.

Paul Pierce reached a milestone that just 17 other players have ever reached before. He hit a three pointer that put him past the 25,000 career point mark, making him just the 18th player of all time to do so. He finished the game with 13 points, but missed two crucial late-game free throws that would've tied the game.

Coming out of the gates in the second half, both teams looked slightly disinterested and cooled off immensely. In the third quarter alone, the Nets' bench out-scored Atlanta's 17-0. The Nets out-scored Atlanta 41-38 in the second half, but Atlanta pulled off the 93-88 victory.

For the Nets, Mason Plumlee continued to show how good of an NBA big he can, and will be. He finished with 17 points off the bench, and also grabbed four rebounds. Kevin Garnett played 18 minutes, the most he has played since returning from back spasms, and finished with just four points, but grabbed an impressive 10 rebounds.

Final Score: 93-88 Hawks
Most Disappointing Stat of the Game: Nets shooting 56% from the free throw line.
Promising Stat of the Game: Mason Plumlee's 17 points on 6/6 shooting
Scariest Moment of the Game: Atlanta scoring 39 second quarter points. 
Best Moment of the Game: Paul Pierce reaching the 25,000 point mark.



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