Nets 99
Bobcats 86
Avoiding embarrassment is a game-to-game challenge at this point in the Nets’ season. Last night, at least, they avoided infamy.
With a second-half surge of rare offensive energy, the Nets snapped their nine-game losing streak with a 99-86 victory and prevented the expansion Charlotte Bobcats from notching the first road win in franchise history.
Four Nets totaled double figures, with Richard Jefferson’s team-high 23 points coming during a characteristic All-Star performance. But after the team’s first victory since Nov. 9, Jefferson said he’s not exactly ecstatic.
“We’ve got another game [tonight in Washington], so there’s no need to act like everything’s perfect,” Jefferson said.
Added Eric Williams, who poured in 22 points: “It’s just good to get the win and get that nasty taste out of my mouth.”
Head coach Lawrence Frank didn’t call the game a must-win – even considering the opponent, but he did note the team’s urgency. And there were signs that the Nets are capable of resembling a decent NBA team.
For instance, they survived a scintillating career-high performance by Emeka Okafor. The UConn product finished with a game-high 26 points after pouring in 18 in the first half and displaying impressive range and all-around skills.
“He’s a special player,” said Alonzo Mourning, who scored 18 points and grabbed 11 rebounds, said of Okafor. “There’s a reason why he got picked in the lottery.”
Unselfish play, good ball movement and determination helped the Nets (3-11) jump ahead by 17 with 9:31 remaining in the fourth. In pregame conversations with Frank and a few teammates, Mourning had stressed accountability and help defense.
The fact that the Nets scored nearly 100 points and sent 11,921 fans home talking about offense was irrelevant.
“The high scoring really doesn’t faze us,” Frank said. “If we could, we’d win 1-0.”
The Nets enjoyed a great frontcourt advantage despite the 6-foot-10 Okafor, outscoring the Bobcats 52-28 in the paint and outrebounding them 42-31. They appeared as if they would pull away as early as the second quarter when Williams’ two free throws gave them a 45-36 lead at the 4:33 mark, but Charlotte stormed back with a 10-0 run to take a 46-45 lead.
The Nets survived a stretch of 4:17 in the second without a field goal to lead by 50-46 at the break, and came on strong in the third quarter.
“New Jersey was hungry; they wanted it from Jump Street,” said Bobcats coach Bernie Bickerstaff. “We had no energy.”
The Nets shot 52.8 percent from the field (38-of-72) and held Charlotte to 41.7 percent (35-of-84).
“The guys were unselfish tonight and we looked good out there,” Williams said. “We moved the ball. We made the extra pass.”
Charlotte’s shot selection was especially poor from the second quarter on, with the likes of Keith Bogans, Jason Kapono and Melvin Ely launching a torrent of bricks. That’s what you get from an expansion franchise.
The Nets’ defense held the Bobcats without a field goal for the final 4:02 of the first quarter as they ended on a 9-2 run. The home team led, 27-20, after 12 minutes despite Okafor’s 10 points.
Said Mourning: “What stimulated our offense was our defense.”
