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Nets Lose Deron Williams, But Win Ugly In Charlotte

By NetsDaily
Mar 9, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) sets up a play against the Charlotte Bobcats during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE
Mar 9, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA; New Jersey Nets point guard Deron Williams (8) sets up a play against the Charlotte Bobcats during the first half at Time Warner Cable Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE

For the second time in six days, the Nets are leaving Charlotte with both good and bad news. On Sunday, it was with Deron Williams' 57 points and Brook Lopez's ankle injury. And on Friday, it's with a gutty, 83-74 victory and an injury to Williams, who left the game late in the second quarter with a sore right calf. He won't play Saturday vs. Houston, the Nets announced.

An 18-2 run gave the Nets an 12-point lead midway through the first quarter. They led by 11 midway through the second, but scored just six points over the last 6:39 of the period, losing Williams along the way, and led by just four at the half. The Bobcats took the lead early in the third quarter, but a 13-0 Nets run spanning the third and fourth quarters put them back up nine, and they held on for their third win of the season over the NBA's worst team.

Combined with the Knicks loss, the Nets win put them only four and a half games behind New York for the eighth spot in the East.

The teams combined to shoot just 35 percent, but the Nets won the rebounding battle, 55-43. Kris Humphries led the way with 20 points and 15 boards. Anthony Morrow added 17 points (all in the fourth quarter), Jordan Farmar dished out seven assists, and Shelden Williams grabbed 13 rebounds.

Gerald Green, playing the first game of his second 10-day contract, finished with eight points, six rebounds and three blocks in 20 minutes and earned Avery Johnson's praise for his defense.

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