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Brooklyn Nets Highlights: Victory Over Los Angeles Lakers Puts Nets In 8th Place In East

By Kenneth Teape

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Brooklyn Nets Highlights: Nets Beat Los Angeles Lakers For 3rd Straight Win To Move Into 8th Place

The Brooklyn Nets have gotten it going at the right time. With their victory Sunday over the Los Angeles Lakers, the Nets have now won three consecutive games and seven of their last nine. The hot streak has not only pushed the Nets back into the playoff picture, but they are now sitting in the eighth spot of the Eastern Conference. With the Boston Celtics losing to the Los Angeles Clippers Sunday, the Nets are now ½ game up on them for eighth place.

The Nets can thank the Clippers for the help they have provided, but without winning on their own they wouldn’t be in this position. They should also be sending a thank you card to the Utah Jazz for sending Enes Kanter to the Oklahoma City Thunder, because if the Nets trade with them that included Brook Lopez had gone through, they would not be in the position they are now.

The Lakers are in full on tank mode with the lineups they are playing, but the games still need to be played. Without Lopez, the Nets wouldn’t have won Sunday, or many of the games during their current string of strong play. Against the Lakers, Lopez dominated in the paint en route to yet another double-double. Tonight he accomplished it by pouring in 30 points and pulling down 11 rebounds. He also had an impact defensively, blocking four shots.

Unlike some of the nights during this recent stretch of games though, Lopez received some help. After a tough game against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, the Nets starting lineup bounced back nicely.

Joe Johnson was strong once again, stuffing the stat sheet while nearly getting a triple double. Johnson scored 18 points to go with eight rebounds, seven assists and two steals. Johnson has had a pedestrian season for the Nets, but has really gotten it going recently, as his improved performance has a lot to do with the Nets improved success.

Deron Williams and Markel Brown joined in on the success tonight as well. Both players struggled against the Cavaliers, but in what was essentially a must-win game for the Nets against an inferior opponent, they both stepped up. Williams scored 13 points to go along with nine assists, one rebound and three steals, while Brown scored a career-high 17 points with four rebounds, four assists and two steals.

It was not an overly easy victory for the Nets in any way though, as the rode a strong first quarter performance throughout the rest of the game. They opened up an 11 point lead in the opening quarter, but played the Lakers to a tie the middle two before losing by three in the fourth.

The reason for that could be pointed at three players; Wesley Johnson, Jordan Hill and Jordan Clarkson. W. Johnson had a strong all-around game, scoring 17 points with five rebounds, three assists and one block. Hill dominated off the bench, registering a double-double in only 27 minutes with 22 points and 16 rebounds.

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The impressive rookie Clarkson stuffed the stat sheet, as he scored 18 points with six rebounds and seven assists. Clarkson, a second round pick, has been one of the lone bright spots in a season of struggles for the Lakers.

Next up for the Nets will be the conclusion of their homestand. They will be hosting the Indiana Pacers in an extremely important game that will go a long way in deciding the outcome of the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Pacers are currently tied with the Celtics, ½ game behind the Nets for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

The winner of the game Tuesday will also take the tiebreaker, as the season series is currently tied at one. Whoever wins the matchup will have a nice leg up in securing a playoff spot.

Next: Are the Nets closer to a title than the Knicks?

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