After getting blown out in two straight games over the weekend, the Nets (6-15) put together a bounce-back performance on Tuesday by beating the Houston Rockets 110-105 at Barclays Center. Brook Lopez led the Nets with 24 points, eight rebounds, and a season-high five blocks and Joe Johnson put forth one of his better games of the season with 22 points and eight assists. Despite turning the ball over 24 times, the Nets shot 55.6 percent from the field and forced 24 turnovers out of the Rockets, including seven from James Harden, who managed only 10 points.
The win boosted morale after hearing news earlier in the day that rookie swingman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson would miss significant time with an ankle injury. Hollis-Jefferson underwent successful surgery yesterday on said ankle and is expected to miss 8 to 10 weeks recovering.
Bojan Bogdanovic filled in nicely for Jefferson on Tuesday, scoring 19 points in 38 minutes as starting shooting guard.
Tonight, the Nets will host the bottom-feeding Philadelphia 76ers (1-21), losers of three in row after finally winning their first game of the season over the Lakers on December 1. If losing their first 18 games of the season wasn’t a low point, then they certainly hit rock bottom on Monday against the San Antonio Spurs: Without All-Stars Tim Duncan and Kawhi Leonard — both healthy scratches — the Spurs outscored the Sixers 65-29 in the first half en route (or, rout) to a 119-68 bloodbath in front of a less-than-enthused Philadelphia home crowd. The Spurs shot 61.8 percent from the field, while the Sixers shot a putrid 34.7 percent including 4-of-24 (16.7%) from behind the arc.
On December 12, 2014, the Nets made history with an 88-70 victory over the 76ers at Barclays Center. In addition to holding the them to season-low 70 points, the Nets held the 76ers to just 11 made two-point field goals, marking the fewest two-point field goals made in a game in NBA history (shot clock era, dating back to 1963-64).
In Case You Missed It: On Monday, the 76ers appointed long time Phoenix Suns executive Jerry Colangelo as Special Advisor and Chairman of Basketball Operations. Colangelo spent 37 years in the Suns’ front office and was awarded NBA Executive of the Year four times.
Why to go: Jewish Heritage Night! In celebration of Hanukkah, the Nets will be hosting festivities beginning at 7 p.m. with the Rabbis vs. Youth basketball game. The national anthem and halftime performance will be performed by renowned Jewish recording artist Yoni Z from Crown Heights. The 23-year-old is known among his fans and critics as “the walking jukebox” and has performed concerts across the globe.
During the game, Nets players will deliver special Hanukkah greetings on the big screen, Jewish cultural music will be played, fans will be invited to participate in an arena-wide menorah lighting, and the kosher David K’s deli will offer the Nets Hanukkah Swish Knish. Also, be on the look out for the menorah lit with basketballs.
Tip-off is at 7:30 P.M. EDT at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center.
