The Brooklyn Nets, without starting center Brook Lopez drop a close one to the New York Knicks 100-97, on a Jason Kidd dagger 3-pointer with 24 seconds left. Gerald Wallace and Deron Williams both had looks to tie the game late, but neither could put one down and time expired. The Nets jumped out to an early lead, but lost it slowly over the course of the next two quarters before a highly competitive fourth quarter ended in the Knicks victory. Win or lose, what a fun game to watch. These teams should play every week.
Here’s the grades:
Excellent game from D-Will — didn’t play out of his pace, didn’t force *too* many shots, and exhibited some wild passing wizardry in the post and driving with the ball. One of his better games. Got a good look as time expired and just couldn’t put it down.
Solid game from Johnson, the kind you hope to expect from him offensively on a nightly basis, even if it’s not 100% the game you want. Didn’t get to the line yet again.
Energy looks good when energy comes out on both ends and results in dunks and layups. Generally you can’t do much to stop Carmelo Anthony defensively — you kind of try to lull him into bad shots and hope he takes them. Did get a little overaggressive at times, specifically once in the fourth quarter attacking the ball defensively and leaving Melo wide open for 3. Got smashed into the floor on a play late in the fourth and kept playing. Hard in the paint.
Zero Hero, coming through on Tuesdays. Blatche continues to impress, hitting jumpers early, drawing fouls, getting in the lane, and putting up points in big moments. Oddly similar to Brook Lopez.
A second straight game of brief offensive explosion.
“The Joker,” apparently, is his nickname. I prefer Flail Boy Magic Mr. Floptastic but I’ll take it. A much better showing from Evans on both sides of the floor than on Sunday night. Disrupted lanes, played straight-up defense in the post, and his appetite for rebounds just cannot be satiated. With Blatche not picking up too many boards tonight, well appreciated.
A team-worst -11. Time waits for no Stack.
