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A win is a win: Nets escape close one against Sixers, 100-91

By Anthony Puccio
Noah K. Murray-USA TODAY Sports

BROOKLYN, N.Y. -- A win is a win, no matter whom it's against and how it happens. But boy, this one was ugly.

For Brooklyn, this was a game they needed to win against the one-win 76ers. They beat them on Jewish Heritage Night, 100-91, behind a big fourth quarter offensive performance from Andreea Bargnani.

The Nets are now 7-15 on the season and have won their second straight game and sixth of their last seven at home.

The Sixers missed their first 16 three-pointers and trailed by as many as 16 in the first half. The Nets held them to 13 points in the first quarter, a season-low for Brooklyn this season, but Philly answered with a 31-point quarter in the second and a 30-point third quarter.

Brook Lopez watched most of the game due to foul trouble. Without him, the Nets struggled to do just about everything required from a decent basketball team.

Andrea Bargnani and the backup unit failed to help on defensive breakdowns, enabling Philly to drive in the lane at will with 52 points scored in the paint. If it wasn't that, the Nets were caught in no-mans land by failing to box out. It was ugly and they trailed 74-70 heading into the fourth.

So much for that 16-point lead.

However, the Nets didn't fold and it was behind the lead of an unlikely hero: Andrea Bargnani. In his return to action, Bargnani scored 13 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter and helped the Nets pull away with Lopez on the bench. Shane Larkin also chipped in eight points in the fourth and finished with 14 points and six assists.

The outscored Philly 30-17 in the final 12 minutes.

Meanwhile, Brook Lopez didn't play for the final 5:25 of this game. He finished with seven points and seven rebounds, but the five fouls were essentially the difference maker in his night.

Larkin's activity on defense, along with his ability to penetrate and kick has been key to the Nets finding better quality shots. They finished the night 6-of-14 from three and 50 percent overall.

Thaddeus Young scored 14 of his 18 points in the first half. He also grabbed 11 rebounds, which gave him his 11th double-double of the season.

Joe Johnson, the hero in Tuesday nights 110-105 victory over the Rockets, was held to just seven points. Back to the Joe we're used to seeing this season, unfortunately. His counterpart, Bojan Bogdanovic, scored 10 points on 4-of-7 shooting.

Only two Nets starters finished in double figures.

The Nets committed 19 turnovers, but their defense was bailed out with the Sixers shooting 4-for-31 from three. Jahlil Okafor led the way for Philly with 22 points and 10 rebounds.

Up next: Los Angeles Clippers, Saturday at 5PM.

For more on the Philadelphia 76ers, check them out at Liberty Ballers.

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