The Nets, who are chasing the Hornets for a possible playoff berth, pointed to this home-and-home against Charlotte as a huge step. Consider the job halfway done, after the Nets pulled off a come-from-behind 134-132 victory in double overtime Wednesday night.
Spencer Dinwiddie, off the bench, gave the Nets a game-high 37 points. But it was Joe Harris (27 points) who had the steal and breakaway layup with 3.4 seconds left in the second OT to win it before a crowd of 14,309 at Barclays Center.
The Hornets actually got two cracks at a chance to tie it again after Harris’ basket — a clock malfunction necessitated time being put back on the clock — but Malik Monk was well off on a last attempt and the Nets held on.
The Nets (17-19) have now won nine of their last 10 since a players-only meeting that seems to have turned around their season. They are just a game behind the Pistons for the sixth seed, and one half-game behind the Hornets and Heat (both 16-17) for the eighth and final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. They will play the rematch Friday in Charlotte, NC, and will head down South with plenty of momentum.
Kemba Walker had 35 points — 14 after the third quarter — for Charlotte, but didn’t have the ball in his hands when the game was on the line. That came back to help the Nets and haunt the Hornets.
Dinwiddie opened the second OT with a four-point play after he got fouled by Tony Parker on a dead-ahead 3-pointer and sank the free throw. Jeremy Lamb (31 points) answered with a 3-pointer of his own, but Jared Dudley’s corner 3 pushed the lead to 128-124.
After Rondae Hollis-Jefferson snatched the rebound off a Marvin Williams miss, Dinwiddie found Harris for a baseline fadeaway that left the Nets ahead 130-124 and had the Hornets running into a timeout with 2:45 left.
Monk hit a 3, and Walker canned a conventional 3-point play to knot it with 1:49 remaining. But Dinwiddie got a turnaround to go from the lane for a 132-130 edge.
Williams tied it, and Charlotte had what looked like the last shot. But with Monk clearing out on Harris, he lost his dribble and Harris poked it free. Harris streaked downcourt for a layup with 3.4 seconds left to give the Nets a 134-132 lead.
Charlotte had one last chance with 1.6 seconds remaining, but Rodions Kurucs (13 points, 12 boards) harassed Monk into a wild 3-point attempt to preserve it.
“I think fighting through that losing streak. I think that was a real test for our group,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game. “Just loved how they kept their spirit ready, they kept their competitive spirit at a high level even thought things weren’t going their way. I’m just proud of the group and how they came back and how they continued to fight and improve quite honestly.”
The Nets, who on Dec. 6 were 8-18 and struggling mightily after losing Caris LeVert to a foot injury, held a players-only film session. They have gone 9-1 since.
“It took us a while. We took a little hit; we were relying on him a lot early on. There was a moment of adjustment,” Atkinson said. “I’d say our veteran guys. Jared Dudley, DeMarre [Carroll], Ed [Davis], those guys — because they’ve seen so much — I don’t think they blinked twice. That really helped us, because more responsibility fell on D’Angelo [Russell] and Spencer, and I really feel like Ed, and DeMarre and Jared’s influence on those young point guards helped big time.”
It was a seesaw affair with 22 ties and 18 lead changes.
“Obviously with what we’re looking to do long term it’s very important. That’s no secret,” Dinwiddie said.
“The schedule’s tough, playing these back to back games against Charlotte, who’s been having a really solid season. They’re tough top to bottom. Obviously Kemba’s had one of the better years for a point guard in the East. Those are tough games,” Harris said. “We’ve been riding a good wave of momentum, we’re optimistic and enthusiastic about coming back out and playing.”
Source: Read Full Article