The Nets went from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows in the course of 21 minutes on Monday, blowing a 22-point lead to the shorthanded Minnesota Timberwolves and falling 107-96 at Barclays Center.
The Nets led by four after the first quarter and took control with an 11-3 lead to start the second. They led by 16 at the half and by as many as 22 early in the third. But the Wolves came all the way back and took the lead with 4 1/2 minutes to go in the fourth. The Nets had multiple chances to get the lead back or at least tie the game in the final minutes, but couldn't do it. Alexey Shved gave the Wolves the lead for good with 2:30 left and Chase Budinger hit the dagger with 39 seconds on the clock.
The Nets were outscored 32-10 in the fourth quarter. They shot 13-for-23 from 3-point range, but were outrebounded 46-30. Joe Johnson led them with 19 points, while Deron Williams added 18 points and 13 assists. Brook Lopez finished with 13, but shot just 5-for-16 from the field.
Mirza Teletovic (five points on 2-for-3 shooting) and Tyshawn Taylor (two points and an assist) each made their NBA debut.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Timberwolves vs. Nets (Video) - NBA.com
- Timberwolves vs. Nets: First half (Video) - NBA.com
- Notebook: Timberwolves 107, Nets 96 - Jake Appleman - NBA.com
- Timberwolves rally from 22 down to stun Nets - Brian Mahoney - AP
- Avery Johnson Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Joe Johnson Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Johnson discusses the Gerald Wallace injury (Video) - Sarah Kustok - YES Network
- Nets vs. Timberwolves - Postgame Interviews (Video) - Ben Couch - Brooklyn Nets
- Nets Blow 22-Point Lead at Home in First Loss - Howard Beck - New York Times
- Nets fizzle in fourth quarter, lose to Timberwolves - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Ankle sprain makes Gerald Wallace day-to-day - Rod Boone - Newsday
- Nets snatch defeat from jaws of victory - Stefan Bondy - NY Daily News
- Brooklyn Nets have a new look and new home, but still have some of the old New Jersey franchise in them - Filip Bondy - New York Daily News
- Timberwolves fight ‘pack’ in fourth to top Nets - Howie Kussoy - New York Post
- New home, same blown lead for Nets - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Kirilenko shows why Nets were ‘Russian’ to sign him - Howie Kussoy - New York Post
- Positive step for Nets' Bogans - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Looking back at Nets-Timberwolves - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- For Nets, atmosphere inside Barclays Center wasn't so great in second game - Dave D'Alessandro - Star-Ledger
- Brooklyn Nets boasting new anthem - Rich Calder - New York Post
- Rapid Reaction: Timberwolves 107, Nets 96 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Boos fill Barclays after Nets lose lead, game - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Avery Johnson Asleep At Wheel While Brooklyn Nets Blow Lead - Steve Lichtenstein - WFAN
- Nets Pregame: CJ Watson huge spark off bench (Video) - Pete Tenney - Brooklyn Fans
- Nets collapse against shorthanded Timberwolves - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
- RUS - Fearless Shved a game-winner - FIBA
- NBA ready to open its “Russian front” - Nikita Zagday - Izvestia (via Russia Beyond the Headlines)
- Wolves pull off stunning Brooklyn heist - Jerry Zgoda - Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Trailing by 22, Wolves stun Nets in Brooklyn visit, 107-96 - Jerry Zgoda - Minneapolis Star Tribune
- Canis Hoopus
- Brooklyn Nets Tickets - TiqIQ