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The Nets bench scored 66 points to help defeat the Los Angeles Lakers, 121-104. Monday evening
Here are the courses…
– Kyrie Irving gave Brooklyn an early lead on a layup, and then Nic Claxton sent Dennis Schroder‘s pulled away, leading to an Irving three to put the Nets up 11-6. Los Angeles’ Pat Beverly he was called for a three-point foul on Irving and argued the call with the officials, resulting in a technical foul and four free throws to extend Brooklyn’s lead to 19-6. Russell Westbrook then made two consecutive 3-pointers as the Lakers looked to close the gap in the first quarter.
Ham Thomas buried a three e Day’Ron Sharpe blocked Juan Toscano-Anderson on edge to close out the quarter as the Nets led 29–16—the fewest points Brooklyn had allowed in an opening quarter all season. Irving led the way with nine points and Royce O’Neale added in eight places. Brooklyn held LA to 27.3% shooting (6-for-22) from the field in the first.
– Yuta Watanabe rejected Wenyen Gabriel and then dried up a 3-pointer to give the Nets a 41-22 lead about three minutes into the second quarter. Claxton was called for a technical foul, but made up for it on his next possession with an offensive board and dunk. The Lakers continued to hold on as the Nets’ lead remained at about 15 points for most of the quarter. The Nets missed eight straight shots and the Lakers cut the lead to 10, but then Joe Harris hit a three-pointer and Claxton hit inside to give the Nets a 58–46 lead at halftime. The Lakers outscored the Nets, 30-29, in the second to keep the game close, as Westbrook led them with 11 points in the first half. But Brooklyn’s defense continued to make a difference, as LA shot just 35.6% from the field and 30.8% from three to two quarters.
– LA went on a 10-0 run to open the third, cutting the Nets lead to 58-56 and forcing Jacques Vaughn call timeout with 9:07 remaining in the quarter. Curry set he was called for a technical foul, giving the Lakers a free point and an extra possession. LA took advantage and Schroder hit a three to give them their first lead since 6-3. The lead didn’t last long, as Irving hit a 3-pointer and then scored in transition to put the Nets up 63-60. Curry tied things up at 68-68 with 5:43 left after that Thomas Bryant was called for the goalkeeper.
– Gabriel hit nine straight for the Lakers and then Irving scored on a fast break, as the Nets trailed, 79-75, with 2:44 left in the third. The Nets closed out the quarter on a 10-0 run, as Thomas hit a three-step back and Sharpe scored on a tip-in to make the game 85-82 going into the quarter.
– Patti Mills and Thomas hit three straight threes, and then Mills’ defense led to a layup by Watanabe as Brooklyn went up, 95-85, to start the quarter. Sharpe put the Barclays Center back on its feet with his career-high 14th rebound and finished with a powerful two-handed jam. Thomas converted one-and-one to extend the lead to 13 and give him 15 points in 15 minutes off the bench. Westbrook hit a three to make it a single-digit play, but O’Neale came back with a three-pointer and Claxton scored in transition to push the lead to 111-99 with 3:40 remaining. Irving then hit a three-pronged dagger into the corner with the clock running low.
– The Brooklyn bench had 66 points, as Thomas and Mills both had 21 points, Watanabe had 12, and Sharpe added eight (Markieff Morris And Edmond Summerner both had colons). Irving led the Nets with 26 points, seven rebounds and six assists. O’Neale finished with 14 points and Claxton had six points, 12 rebounds, a block and a steal.
Highlights
What’s next
The Nets will travel up to Boston and face the Celtics on Wednesday at 7:30 p.m
