It had all the makings of a truly memorable night at the Prudential Center. The Nets came back from seven points down with a minute to go in regulation, with Anthony Morrow scoring nine points in the final 22 seconds. They got big performances from multiple guys. And they seemingly had control in overtime. But in the end, they came up a fraction of a second short, losing to the Suns 104-103 in Deron Williams' home debut as a Net on Monday.
After Channing Frye hit a three to put the Suns up one with 6.6 seconds left in overtime, the Nets got the ball to Williams on their final possession. He drove right and missed a floater off the glass. Kris Humphries tipped the ball in, but the red light on the backboard went on as the ball was still touching his fingertips. The basket was ruled no good and replay upheld the ruling.
Williams recorded his third double-double in as many games as a Net, scoring 13 points and dishing out 18 assists (another season-high). In three games with the Nets (all losses), Williams is averaging 15.7 assists. He suffered a bruised left hand early in the fourth quarter, but obviously returned. X-rays were negative.
Brook Lopez led all scorers with 28 points and added 10 rebounds, but he missed the free throw that opened the door for the Suns to win the game. Humphries added 16 points and 15 boards, and Morrow finished with 22 points, hitting five of his 10 attempts from three. More than 15,000 showed up at "The Rock".
- Boxscore - NBA.com
- Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Suns' Frye hits game-winner for 2nd straight day - AP
- Suns-Nets Notebook - Jake Appleman - NBA.com
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Block of the Night - Kris Humphries (Video) - NBA.com
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Nets Woo Williams, but Not With a Win - Howard Beck - New York Times
- Nets drop Deron Williams' Newark debut, 104-103 in overtime - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
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Nets leave for London after loss to Suns - Colin Stephenson - Star-Ledger
- Suns see benefit of Nets' Deron Williams trade - Zach Berman - Star-Ledger
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For Williams, the warm welcome is nice, but 'winning trumps everything' - Steve Politi - Star-Ledger
- Excitment of Deron Williams' debut is familar to former Net Vince Carter - Zach Berman - Star-Ledger
- Tap-in too late as Nets fall in Deron's home debut - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Hand it to Deron: He plays in pain - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Deron ready to recruit for Nets - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Suns believe in Williams - Brian Lewis - New York Post
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Nets fall just short against Suns in overtime - Al Iannazzone - The Record
- Nets notes: Deron Williams' future - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Deron Williams shows he’s the real deal - Art Stapleton - The Record
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Williams wows home crowd, but Nets come up short - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Bob Lorenz - YES Network
- From the Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Mike Fratello - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Brook Lopez Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
- Billy King Interview (Video) - Jessica Taff - YES Network
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Deron Williams debuts in New Jersey (Video) - SNY
- Humphries' tip too late for Nets, New Jersey loses to Suns - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
- Deron Williams greeted like a star in Newark Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
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Nets come up short in Deron Williams’ N.J. debut - Barbara Barker - New York Newsday
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Kidd left blueprint for Williams' success - Ohm Youngmisuk - ESPN
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D-Will's Dime Feats Keep Hope Kindled - Devin Kharpertian - ESPN
- Rapid Reaction: Suns 104, Nets 103 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Nets fall in Williams' home debut - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Williams dinged but X-rays come back negative - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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Suns spoil Williams' debut in front of jazzed Nets fans -
- Suns' Channing Frye hits game-winner for 2nd straight day to beat Nets - Paul Coro - Arizona Republic
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Aaron Brooks treads lightly in Phoenix Suns debut - Paul Coro - Arizona Republic
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Suns Frye Nets in overtime - Agence France Presse
- NETS: Deron's Home Debut Dashed in Overtime - Ben Couch - New Jersey Nets
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SUNS: Suns Need Overtime to Knock off Nets - Scott Stanchak - Phoenix Suns