Watch Oklahoma City 110, Brooklyn Nets, 93
OKLAHOMA CITY (Sporting Alert) – The Brooklyn Nets jumped all over the Oklahoma City Thunder from the opening tip-off en route to a 110-93 victory at Chesapeake Energy Arena here in Oklahoma City on Wednesday night.
The visiting Nets rushed off to a 33-19 first quarter lead and never looked back from then, despite getting checked 27-15 by the Thunder in the third.
“They took it to us on both ends of the floor,” Thunder coach Scott Brooks said.
“We had one good quarter but it wasn’t enough to win the game. They were much better than us tonight.”
Star guard Joe Johnson poured in a game high 33 points and center Brook Lopez added 25 in the win for Brooklyn (17-15).
“Our defense tonight was where it was earlier in the season,” Johnson said on NBA.com.
“We had a tough practice yesterday in San Antonio and P.J. jumped on us about a lot of things especially on offense with our ball movement and defensively helping one another and to be honest it helped.
“It translated to the game. We were in a spot defensively that we hadn’t been in in a while.”
Kevin Durant led Oklahoma City with 27 points before he was ejected for the first time in his NBA career for a pair of technical fouls for arguing with an official with 1:57 left in the game.
“They picked us apart, they were hittin’ threes, making jumpers, they were hot. We just didn’t have any defense,” said Durant.
Commenting on his ejection, Durant said: “I said, `It’s a bad call.”‘
“They’ve got a quick trigger now.”
“I think I’m allowed to be frustrated, especially in this league. With the ups and downs, the players are allowed to be frustrated.
“It is what it is, move on from it.”
Star guard Deron Williams added 19 points and 13 assists, while Kris Humphries chipped in with 11 off the bench for the Nets, which dominated the fourth quarter 34-21.
“Deron ran the team unbelievably and scored points and created opportunities for other people. Joe was a monster and I thought Brook was great,” Nets interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo said.
Russell Westbrook scored 26 and 10 assists, Serge Ibaka had 14 points and eight rebounds and Kevin Martin, who went 1-for-5 shooting from 3-pointers in the first half, finished with 11 points for the Thunder.
