The Nets' 2011-12 season got off to a real ugly start. But they managed to recover (twice) to beat the Wizards, 90-84, in Washington on Monday.
The Nets committed turnovers on their first three possessions of the game and missed their first five shots from the field. They trailed by as many as 21 points midway through the second quarter, but were within eight at halftime and took the lead midway through the third.
An 11-0 Wizards run put Washington up by eight early in the fourth, but the Nets came back again and led by eight with 1:37 left. Washington made a final run and had a chance to tie with a three with less than 30 seconds left, but Kris Humphries got his hand on a John Wall pass and Anthony Morrow sealed the game at the free throw line.
The Nets shot just 41 percent from the field, but outrebounded the Wizards, 58-39. Deron Williams led the way with 23 points and eight assists, adding eight rebounds. Humphries had a double-double in the middle of the third period and finished with 21 points and 16 rebounds. Morrow struggled early, but finished with 16 points. Johan Petro hit some big shots, Damion James added 14 rebounds, and Sundiata Gaines gave the Nets a big lift off the bench.
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Humphries has 21 and 16, rallies Nets past Wizards - AP
- Post Game Plus (Video) - Nancy Newman - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Interview (Video) - YES Network
- Kris Humphries Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Sundiata Gaines Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Nets Pre Game: Mehmet Okur on being a Net (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Kris Humphries booed leads Nets to win over Wizards - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Nets host Hawks in final New Jersey home opener - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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Deron Williams Nets outplays John Wall Wizards - Tim Bontemps - New York Post
- Nets comeback from 21-point deficit to defeat Washington Wizards in season opener - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
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In John Wall, Nets face point guard Nets once thought would lead them - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Deron Williams, Kris Humphries lead NJ Nets to season-openning win over Washington Wizards - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
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Avery Johnson: Why all the Humphries hate? - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
- John Wall and the path the Nets nearly traveled - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
- Kris Humphries stars in Nets' comeback win over Wizards - Andy Vasquez - The Record
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Net notes: We have a plan - Andy Vasquez - The Record
- Nets Begin Rebuilding Project With Win Over Wizards - Jake Appleman - New York Times
- Rapid Reaction: Nets 90, Wizards 84 - New Jersey Nets Blog - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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Humphries shows his worth in Nets win - Gregory Hrinya - Examiner
- Wizards vs. Nets: Washington loses big lead in season-opening loss to Nets - Michael Lee - Washington Post
- Andray Blatche unhappy with role in loss to Nets - Michael Lee - Washington Post
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Wizards open season on an ominous note - Michael Lee - Washington Post
- We’ve seen these Wizards before - Mike Wise - Washington Post
- Nets Vs. Wizards: Sense Of Despair Permeates, Even After Just One Game - Mike Prada - SB Nation
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Andray Blatche calls out his coach, wants ball in the post more - Kurt Helin - NBC Sports