NBA Roundup – March 5, 2011: New Jersey Nets and Washington Wizards Win - Part 1
New Jersey Nets 137 - Toronto Raptors 136
It took three overtimes to come up with the winner of the contest in the highest scoring game of the season. Travis Outlaw scored the final eight points of the third overtime as the New Jersey Nets topped the Toronto Raptors 137-136
at the O2 Arena, London.
Brook Lopez contributed 34 points, 14 rebounds, and a career-high eight blocks in the victory. Sasha Vujacic had one of his finest games against the Raptors with 25 points. Kris Humphries added 20 points and 17 rebounds while Deron
Williams added 21 points and 18 assists for the Nets, who have won second consecutive game of the current season.
For the Raptors, the Italian sharp-shooter, Andreas Bargnani added game-high 35 points and 12 rebounds in the losing effort. DeMar DeRozan chipped in 30 points while Leandro Barbosa had 22 points for Toronto, who lost 46th
game of the season.
DeRozan paced Toronto with 13 points in the opening quarter as the Raptors held a 30-23 advantage, heading into the second.
The Nets however rebounded back in the second quarter. They shot 68 percent from the field and outscored the Raps 42-32 to take a 65-62 lead into the locker room. The Raptors came strong in the third quarter and successfully cut
the 3-point halftime deficit, tying the game at 88-88 after three quarters.
Both teams played the fourth quarter hard and neither managed a difference more than two points in the frame. DeRozan hit a driving layup, in the dying second to send the game into overtime, tied at 110. The teams battled it out
for two overtime, but still no winner emerged as the high scoring spectacle entered the third overtime, with the teams tied at 126. However, Outlaw was able to provide the difference as he scored the final eight points of the fourth trail to seal the hard-fought
victory.
Washington Wizards 103 – Minnesota Timberwolves 96
John Wall contributed 18 points, a career high 11 rebounds and eight assists as the Washington Wizards edged past the Minnesota Timberwolves, 103-96, at Verizon Center.
Andray Blatche scored a team-high 20 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists while Maurice Evans added 15 points for the Wizards, who snapped a seven-game losing streak.
Kevin Love was once again phenomenal for the Wolves with 20 points and 21 rebounds. He registered his 50th consecutive double-double of the current season. In addition to that, this was his eleventh 20-20 game of the
season. Michael Beasley finished with 18 points while Wayne Ellington had 15 points for the Timberwolves, who lost three of the last four games of the season.
Minnesota shot an impressive 59 percent from the field in the opening quarter, taking a 29-25 lead into the second. Washington however dominated the second quarter and managed to take a slender 51-49 lead at halftime. Wizards shot
poorly in the third quarter as the Wolves found their way to take a 72-68 advantage into the final stanza. The Wizards however came on strong in the fourth quarter as they outscored the Wolves 35-24 to seal the 15th victory of the season at home.
Tags: