Brooklyn Nets Win Third Straight, But Lose Brook Lopez Again

From the desk of:  THE HOOPS OF FLATBUSH

 

FINAL

L.A. Clippers     93

Brooklyn Nets  102

BROOKLYN NETS: Down Goes Lopez!  Rolls Ankle In 3rd Quarter And Leaves Game.

The other night against the Boston Celtics, the Nets, and Deron Williams in particular, all showed who they can be when they're all healthy, and on the floor together.  Jason Kidd rearranged the game plan, the rotation has been shortened, Paul Pierce has been coming off the bench, now the ball moves through Brook Lopez, and Joe Johnson benefits again from a return to isolation sets.

But it's always something.  Damn these ballerina ankles!

Brook Lopez left in the third quarter of Thursday night's game against the L.A. Clippers at Barclays after rolling his ankle while performing a post move.  He limped back up court, and briefly came out of the game, then re-entered, only to walk off the floor again, and this time, off towards the locker room.  He did not return.

As luck would have it, the Nets were leading the Clippers 83-62 after three quarters, cruising with a twenty-one point lead.  Andray Blatche entered the game as Lopez' replacement, and immediately caught fire, scoring six points over the last 1:22 of the third.

Into the fourth quarter they went.  By the 7:00 minute mark, Mason Plumlee two free throws put the Nets up 91-71, and by the 4:00 mark, Allan Anderson's jumper made the score 99-79, keeping Brooklyn's 20-point lead in tact.

The Clippers never could manage to close the gap, despite outscoring Brooklyn 31-19 in the fourth quarter.  Brooklyn won their third straight game by a 102-93 final score.

In the battle of the point guards, Chris Paul scored twenty to lead the Clippers, but only issued a pair of assists.  Deron Williams had four assists, and scored 15 points.

Five Nets scored in double digits.  Brook Lopez scored 16 points before leaving the game in the third quarter.  Joe Johnson led the Nets starters with 21 points, and Andray Blatche matched him with 21 points off the bench.  Blatche also led the team with 9 rebounds.

The Clippers were 15-7 prior to earning their 8th loss against Brooklyn.  So, this is definitely a game the Nets can write home about.

The severity of Brook Lopez' ankle injury is now of paramount concern to the Nets.




Mike.BTB