Overtime Heartbreaker: Sixers 121, Nets 120 (GAME GRADES)

Mason Plumlee

Mason Plumlee CENTER

Unimpressive. Struggled to control the ball while rebounding in his short stints.

Paul Pierce POWER FORWARD

Hit a three-pointer with 16.9 seconds left in overtime to put the Nets up 120-119, but Evan Turner had the last laugh, hitting a layup past Lopez & over Pierce to win the game at the overtime buzzer.

That aside, good moments for Truth, drawing fouls and hitting one ridiculous two-handed scoop in the first quarter:

Overall solid game in his return to the starting lineup and a huge bucket late in the fourth, but he couldn’t contain Evan Turner on the perimeter even before the game-winner.

Shaun Livingston POINT GUARD

A solid offensive showing tonight playing across from Michael Carter-Williams, who has a chance to be what Shaun Livingston should have been. Nets ran a two-point guard lineup with Livingston and Deron Williams for stretches in the second half, with Livingston handling most of the creative duties. Though the team struggled mightily on the defensive end, Livingston did a good job running the offense. But like the rest of Brooklyn, couldn’t contain anyone on the perimeter.

Alan Anderson SHOOTING GUARD

Joe who?

Excellent game from the fifth option. Threw back a potential game-saving block on Evan Turner with 6.3 seconds left to preserve Brooklyn’s one-point lead. Drew a foul and hit two crucial free throws with a minute left. Played solid team defense that would indicate the presence of a scheme, though Tony Wroten took him off the dribble more than once in the first half. Hit his threes, had an explosive 16-point third quarter, and got into the lane off the dribble on more than one occasion. I’ll even excuse the airball with just over two minutes left in overtime, because without him, there would be no overtime. Pretty much all you can ask for from him.

Deron Williams POINT GUARD

Played a positively Blatcheian game; either helped the team immensely or ruined Brooklyn’s chances down the stretch. Deferred his role for much of tonight, setting up teammate and only occasionally looking for his own shot. Had a crucial turnover late trying to set up a one-handed layup for himself, and later had a great mismatch for him — the slow-footed Lavoy Allen on the perimeter — and Williams elected to kick the ball away. Had the last shot in regulation set up for him, and Williams took an off-balance 19-footer that clanked off the side of the rim. Hit two big jumpers in the overtime period, but also committed a careless turnover that led to free throws for the Sixers, before hitting Pierce with what was nearly the game-winning assist. Like I said, Deron Blatche.

Brook Lopez CENTER

Can’t even avoid an F because he somehow clawed his way to 20 points despite exhibiting the energy of a bowl of dried paint in a dark room. Don’t let the stat sheet fool you: looked way better in the box sore than on the floor. Sluggish, lethargic as he struggled mightily to protect the paint and get position against Spencer Hawes, who isn’t exactly an enormous post presence on the defensive end. Fitting that Evan Turner hit the game-winning layup as he drove right past him.

Andray Blatche POWER FORWARD

Way, way more Bad Blatche than Good Blatche. Issues rebounding and putting the ball in the basket up close.

Mirza Teletovic POWER FORWARD

FEARZA TIME! EVERYBODY DANCE!

Hit five threes eighteen minutes into the game. That’s really good. Added another later. Also contributed on the defensive end with a nice block on Evan Turner where he stayed completely vertical, avoiding a foul call, and didn’t look like a D-League reject putting the ball on the floor. Earned his crunch-time minutes. A positive in a killer loss.