The Nets were missing their new star (who became a father for the fourth time), but they finally got their first three-game winning streak in more than two years, outlasting the Warriors 94-90 at the Prudential Center on Wednesday. The Nets won four straight in January-February 2009. Only Brook Lopez remains from that team.
The Nets reached another milestone with the win, a .500 record at home...16-16. "I don't think (the Nets') size killed us as much as their effort," Stephen Curry said after the game.
The Nets led by as many as nine early in the second quarter, but the Warriors were within two at the half and moved up by as many as six in the third. The Nets got the lead back early in the fourth and the game was tight from then on. After a dramatic block by Kris Humphries, Lopez put them up two with a three-point play with 1:10 to go. The Warriors had two chances to tie, but they missed them both and Lopez put the game away at the line with 3.3 seconds left.
Lopez led all scorers with 24 points, adding 10 rebounds. Anthony Morrow added 22 points, hitting four of his six attempts from 3-point range, and Kris Humphries recorded his fifth straight (and 21st overall ) double-double. Jordan Farmar dished out nine assists and Sundiata Gaines dished out eight, but Farmar was a -19 and Gaines was a +21, grabbing a huge offensive rebound in the final minute. Brandan Wright saw his first action as a Net, scoring two points and grabbing two rebounds in six minutes.
"I'm excited about the opportunity over here," Wright said, "how they really want to see what I can do. They think I bring a different aspect to the team. They told me they would give me an opportunity to play. They want to see what I can do these last five weeks of the season."
- Boxscore - NBA.com
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Game Highlights (Video) - NBA.com
- Nets beat Warriors for 3rd win in a row - AP
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Warriors-Nets notebook - Jake Appleman - NBA.com
- Nets beat Warriors, 94-90, without Deron Williams - Conor Orr - Star-Ledger
- When Nets sputtered, Avery Johnson went to Sundiata Gaines - Conor Orr - Star-Ledger
- Nets' hot streak is three-mendous - Fred Kerber - New York Post
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Gaines impressing Nets, Johnson - Fred Kerber - New York Post
- Nets beat Warriors, 94-90, for their third straight victory - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Nets notes: Sundiata Gaines pays dividends - Al Iannazzone - The Record
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Lopez leads Deron-less Nets to third straight win - Al Iannazzone - The Nets Insider
- Nets drop Warriors playing without Williams, led by Lopez, Morrow - Stefan Bondy - New York Daily News
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David Lee talks about Nets, Knicks and how he could have brought Carmelo to New York a lot sooner - Stefan Bondy - The InterNets
- Post-Game Plus (Video) - Gordon Damer - YES Network
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From The Booth (Video) - Ian Eagle & Jim Spanarkel - YES Network
- Avery Johnson Press Conference (Video) - YES Network
- Sasha Vujacic Interview (Video) - Sasha Vujacic - YES Network
- Gaines plays unsung hero in Nets' 94-90 victory - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
- Rapid Reaction: Nets 94, Warriors 90 - Mike Mazzeo - ESPN New York
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Newest Net provides immediate Gaines (with Post-game Video) - Greg Hrinya
- NETS: Humphries Has Second Chance, Gaines Gets Encore - Ben Couch - New Jersey Nets
- Golden State Warriors end disappointing road trip with loss to New Jersey Nets - Marcus Thompson II - San Jose Mercury-News
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Nets beat Warriors to win third straight - Rusty Simmons - San Francisco Chronicle