New Jersey Nets hold off Atlanta Hawks in overtime
Head coach Avery Johnson ripped Brook Lopez and Devin Harris for their lack of leadership in their last three games, and the two young and emerging stars responded to the challenge as they
led the New Jersey Nets to a pulsating 107-101 win over the Atlanta Hawks in overtime on Tuesday 23 November at the Prudential Center in Newark.
Lopez racked up 32 points on 12-for-19 shooting from the field to go with nine rebounds, while Harris scored 27 points and dished out nine assists, helping the Nets snap their three-game
losing skid.
“They've been challenged behind the scenes,” said Johnson. “Two guys that we rely heavily upon came through. Now what I am showing them is if they can consistently have that aggression and
that attacking attitude, it makes us a better ball club. They don't have many nights with this team where they can take off.”
Kris Humphries also had an impressive night as the 25-year-old forward chipped in 12 points and grabbed 14 rebounds, while Anthony Morrow added 13 points on 4-for-9 shooting from the floor
for the Nets, who led for the entire second half before allowing the Hawks to force an extra period.
New Jersey were comfortably ahead by five points, 93-88, with almost a minute left in the game, but Jamal Crawford hit a huge three-pointer followed by two crucial free throws from Joe Johnson
that tied the game at 93, with 20.3 seconds left in the game.
Harris had a chance to win the game for the Nets, but he missed a potential game-winning three-pointer. However, Harris and the Nets bounced back in overtime, overcoming comeback attempts
from the Hawks that sealed their fifth win of the season.
“I thought the effort was there,” said Crawford, who led the Hawks with his 21 points on 8-for-14 shooting and five rebounds. “It just didn't go our way. We expended so much energy staying
around and getting back in the game. We didn't have enough to finish up.”
Josh Smith finished with 20 points and seven rebounds; Joe Johnson racked up 16 points, eight assists, and six rebounds, while Al Horford added 14 points and 10 rebounds for the Hawks, who
have dropped seven of their last nine games after starting the season with six-straight wins.
“We just have to keep working,” said Hawks head coach Larry Drew. “We can't feel sorry for ourselves. As you go through the course of the season, there are going to be some ups and some downs.
You learn how to handle adversity. These are the types of situations that will make you stronger as a team; you don't fragment, you pull together.”
Terrence Williams did not play for the Nets after head coach Johnson announced that the second-year forward would miss two games for breaking team rules.
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