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Williams, Lopez help Nets breeze past Lakers, 114-105

By Anthony Puccio
Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports

First game from All-Star break, trying to make a push for playoffs without Kevin Garnett and with Thaddeus Young making his Nets debut. The Brooklyn Nets breezed past the Lakers, 114-105, with both Deron Williams and Brook Lopez posting double-doubles.

Jarret Jack was OUT with hamstring, D-Will was in the starting lineup -- Joe Johnson started at the 4 and Alan Anderson and Bojan Bogdanovic on the wings. This was the Nets 15th different starting lineup.

Williams went for 12 points and 15 assists, the most he's had in a Brooklyn uniform, while Lopez finished with 22 points and 14 rebounds. Bojan Bogdanovic finished with 18 points, one of his best performances of the year and the most points he's scored in a game since November 17.

Young, in his debut, scored eight points on 4-of-8 shooting and grabbed four rebounds in 12 minutes. He also showed off his passing skills, hitting Markel Brown with a perfect alley-oop in the second quarter.

"I think we have a lot of good players and we can make a run and potentially get into the playoffs," Young said pre-game. "We just have to go out there and play and I hope me coming here to this team I can help this team get back there."

"Deron was really good," said Lionel Hollins in the post-game. "He was good in our two days of practice."

Hollins also declared that "we're a small team now" with Young replacing Kevin Garnett. Hollins would not dismiss the idea that Young could start once he learns the defensive schemes but said "everybody will play."

The Nets were down 57-56 at the half, then went on a big run early in the fourth. By the time the final stanza began, the Nets were up by 19, following a 40-20 third. It was the highest scoring quarter of the season.  The Lakers whittled it down to seven with a late run, but a high off the glass layup by Williams provided the dagger and the Nets upped their margin with a layup late by Bojan Bogdanovic, an open shot that angered Jeremy Lin.

Before the game, Billy King predicted D-Will would play well. "I think Deron is going to have a great second half," King said. "I think he’s going to play well. "I think the break probably came at the right time for a lot of our guys. He can go play, there will be less distractions and I think he’ll be fine."

It was the Lakers 16th loss in 17 games, their seventh straight and 40th of the season. It was also the first time in nine years that the Nets had beaten the Lakers two straight games.

Here's the quarter by quarter, tonight from the L.A. Times Eric Pincus...

First quarter...

The Lakers led the Brooklyn Nets by as many as six points, behind hot starts from Jordan Clarkson and Ryan Kelly, but finished down by two on a buzzer-beating shot by former Lakers guard Darius Morris.

Clarkson scored eight points to the lead the Lakers, Kelly added seven. The team shot 52% from the field and hand only one turnover.

The Nets were even more efficient, converting 58.3% of their shots from the field, led by Bojan Bogdanovic with nine points. Joe Johnson scored eight while Brook Lopez contributed seven off the bench.

Second quarter...

Both Ryan Kelly and Bojan Bogdanovic  led their teams with 12 points at the half, but the Lakers hold a one-point lead after 24 minutes.

Kelly made four of seven shots from the field, while Bogdanovic converted five of eight, including a dunk and a pair of three-pointers.

Robert Sacre added nine for the Lakers while Jordan Clarkson and Ed Davis eath scored eight.

Brook Lopez contributed 11 points off the bench for the Nets, who shot 44.9% from the field and committed seven turnovers.

The Lakers shot 51.1%, from the field and had six miscues.  Both teams had just one turnover in the first quarter, so the second was far sloppier.

Third quarter...

Brooklyn pulled away in the third, finishing the quarter with a 19-point lead after outscoring the Lakers, 40-20.

Joe Johnson leads all scorers with 20 points, making five of seven from long range.  Brook Lopez has added 19 off the bench. Three other players -- Bojan Bogdanovic (14), Alan Anderson (13) and Deron Williams (10) are in double figures for the Nets, who are shooting 52.9% from the field and 55.6% (10 of 18) from three-point range.

Fourth quarter...

After falling behind by as many as 22 points, the Lakers rallied late to close the gap to seven, ultimately falling short against the Brooklyn Nets,

Robert Sacre was high man for the Lakers with 13 points. Ryan Kelly and Jordan Clarkson have each added 12 apiece.  Ed Davis has scored 10 off the bench for the Lakers, who are shooting 47.1% from the field and 20% (3 of 15) from behind the arc.

Forwards Carlos Boozer and Wesley Johnson did not play a single minute through three quarters -- coach's decision.

For more on the Los Angeles Lakers, check them out at Silver Screen and Roll.

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