Nets Clinch 4th Seed with Win Over Pacers

indycornrows.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

April 12th, 2013

Brooklyn Nets vs. Indiana Pacers Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 117 Pacers 109

The Brooklyn Nets picked up a big win on Friday night against the likely third seed in the Eastern Conference in the Indiana Pacers. The win by Brooklyn guarantees that in just their first season in their new home the Nets will have home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs.

Positives:

As it has been most of the second half of the season the Nets were led by Point Guard Deron Williams, and the win against the Pacers was in large part due to the great play from Williams. Williams scored a game-high 33 points on 10 for 23 shooting to go along with 14 assists. 20 of Williams points came in the second quarter making it the third time this season that he has scored 20 or more points in a quarter. Williams was unable to finish the game however, as in the final minute he hurt his left knee, and was forced to leave the game with a limp to the locker room.



Shooting guard Joe Johnson looks healthy after missing time with his heel injury, and he delivered a good game for Brooklyn again in the win. Johnson had his second consecutive 20-point game, as he finished with 24 points on nine for 17 shooting. Johnson also did other things well besides scoring, as he grabbed six rebounds, had four assists, and three steals in an all around good game for Johnson.

The final member of the Nets Big 3 Brook Lopez also played well, as the Nets are now (4-0) when the Big 3 all scores 20 or more points. Lopez finished the game with 24 points on an efficient 10 for 16 shooting, and had a whopping five blocks. 

The first half was all Brooklyn, as they scored 69 points, which is the most points they have scored in a half this season. The hot start to the game was in large part because of the Big 3, who combined for 52 points, as Williams had 25 at the break. The three-point shooting was also a big factor, as the Nets went seven for 11 from deep against one of the better defensive teams in the league.

Negatives:

Nets Power Forward Reggie Evans lost his cool in the third quarter picking up two technical fouls, which resulted in him being tossed from the game. Evans was doing his thing on the glass as always before he was tossed, as he had 12 rebounds in 24 minutes, but his team record streak of 13+ rebound games came to an end at eight due to his ejection. Besides the ejection of Evans, the third quarter was once again a problem for the Nets, as the Pacers outscored them 35-23, which made the game very interesting heading into the fourth.

Next up for the Nets will be a trip up north to play the Toronto Raptors on Sunday afternoon.