Nets Defeat Hawks Without Deron Williams

nydailynews.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

January 6th, 2014

Atlanta Hawks vs. Brooklyn Nets Post Game Recap 

Final Score: Hawks 86 Nets 91

The Brooklyn Nets for the second time this season are on a three-game winning streak, as on Monday night they were able to beat one of the few Eastern Conference teams over .500 in the Atlanta Hawks. The win moves the Nets to (13-21) on the season, which puts them four games back of the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division.

Positives:

- With Deron Williams missing his 12th game of the season due to his lingering ankle injury, Shaun Livingston stepped into the starting Point Guard role, and came through with a very nice game. Livingston played 34 minutes, scoring 12 points on six for 11 shooting. He also grabbed five rebounds, and had three steals in route to being +15 for the game.



- The Nets got a much needed boost from Joe Johnson, who erupted out of nowhere scoring wise, after not scoring in double-digits since Christmas before Monday night. Johnson finished with a game-high 23 points on 10 for 22 shooting, as he picked up his scoring without Williams. Johnson was clutch in the fourth quarter on a nice run for the Nets, and also had four assists in what was a much needed good game for Johnson, who besides one clutch shot in Oklahoma City had been flat out bad. 

- Mirza Teletovic had a big impact off the bench for Brooklyn, as he provided some great scoring. Teletovic scored 16 points off the bench on six for 12 shooting, which included him, going four for nine from three-point range. Jason Kidd stayed with Teletovic down the stretch, and the move paid off, as Teletovic hit a corner three-pointer with 44 seconds left that gave the Nets a 89-84 lead. 

- After their disastrous third quarter against the Cavaliers, the Nets bounced back with a great one on Monday against the Hawks, which was desperately needed after being outscored by 12 points in the second quarter. In the third the Nets outscored Atlanta 26-15, as the defense came out looking great in the third quarter, and then yet again in the fourth. The 15 points the Nets allowed in the third quarter was the least amount of points they have given up in any third quarter this season. 

Negatives:

- After a nine point first quarter from Paul Pierce, which got the Nets off to a good start, Pierce disappeared for the rest of the game. Pierce finished the game going three for nine from the field, and was the only Net in the starting lineup with a negative +/-. Another former Celtic Jason Terry also struggled in this game, as off the bench Terry played 11 minutes and went zero for five from the field, with zero points. 

The Nets will be hosting the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night, as they look to make it four straight wins.