Brook Lopez is king of the (Nets) world.
With his 23rd point tonight, his 10,442nd of his career, Brook passed Buck Williams as the all-time Nets leading scorer as the Nets fell 114-105 to the Celtics.
Entering the game with history looming, Brook started off 0-5 from the field. The Nets as a whole never got anything going in the first quarter, making just three field goals in the quarter, good for 14.3 percent shooting and the lowest scoring quarter of the season (15 points).
The Celtics were the ones making all the highlights, and they were also out-rebounding the Nets in the first half. During Brooklyn’s second half surge, though, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Brook Lopez and Lin caught the team back up again on the boards.
After being down 58-40 at halftime and by as many as 27 points in the game, Brooklyn used a 37-point point third quarter to be within 13 points of Boston entering the fourth.
One area Brooklyn held an edge at was at the free throw line. The Nets went 35-39 from the line as a team, a season-high, with Lin leading the way in his 17 attempts.
The Nets knocked on Boston’s door again in the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run. The team came within seven points of Boston with six minutes left, but then missed seven straight shots, and that was about it.
Not the most entertaining game, and no win, but Brook Lopez is now No. 1 in Nets scoring history with 10,444 points. Congrats from the team, Brook. We’re glad you’re still here.
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson
B+
The stats: 4-15 FG, 1-2 3PT, 8-8 FT, 11 REB, 3 AST, 4 STL, 2 BLK
Rondae has back-to-back double-doubles for the first time in his career, and his recent presence from three is part of that.
Rondae always seems like he’s everywhere on the court. He matched a season-high four steals, too.
The hustle doesn’t go unnoticed, it makes a difference.
Brook Lopez
A+
The stats: 25 PTS, 10-21, 1-6 3PT, 4-4 FT, 7 REB, 2 AST, 1 BLK
After a slow start and registering just seven points in the first half, Brook used the second half and a baseline jumper to take his place in Nets history.
He is now the all-time leading Nets scorer, passing Buck Williams.
No. 1 in history, No. 1 in our hearts.