Pierce and Nets Shock the Heat in Miami

miamiherald.com

By Nick Ziegler (@Ziggy26x)

March 12, 2014

Brooklyn Nets vs. Miami Heat Post Game Recap

Final Score: Nets 96 Heat 95

The Brooklyn Nets were able to head down to Miami and beat the Heat for the third time this season despite being heavy underdogs on the road. The victory makes the Nets the only team to beat the Heat three times this season, and is the first win for the franchise in Miami since its New Jersey days in 2008. With the win the Nets are able to stay three games behind the Toronto Raptors in the Atlantic Division with their (33-30) record.

Player of the Game: Paul Pierce

Nets Forward Paul Pierce was fantastic in the win on Wednesday, as for the most part he carried the Nets, and he especially carried them in the Nets 31-point third quarter with 17 points. Pierce finished with a game-high 29 points on nine for 12 shooting, which included going five for seven from three-point range, and six of seven from the free throw line. It was the first game since February 23rd against the Los Angeles Lakers that Pierce scored more than 20 points, but it was good time for the Nets that he did it on Wednesday against Miami.


Positives:

Brooklyn’s big men off the bench did a very good job helping the Nets earn the victory, as Mirza Teletovic and Andray Blatche both had very nice games. Teletovic led all bench scorers with 17 points on six of 11 shooting with four rebounds and three blocks in just 16 minutes of play. Blatche also scored in double digits, as in 26 minutes he scored 11 points on five for 10 shooting. Everyone on Brooklyn’s bench had a positive +/- compared to just Ray Allen going +1 for Miami.

On defense the Nets were able to contain LeBron James quite nicely, as the MVP candidate was held to just 19 points on six for 13 shooting. They also forced LeBron in five turnovers, which helped the Nets hold the Heat to under 100 points keeping their streak alive.

Negatives:

For most of the game two of the Nets main guns in Joe Johnson and Deron Williams struggled to do much of anything. Johnson scored just eight points on two for 10 shooting with a team-high five turnovers, in what was just an all-around bad game for him. Deron Williams also struggled to shoot the ball, as he scored just six points on two for eight shooting, but hit a clutch shot to give the Nets a 96-92 lead with 35 seconds to play in the fourth quarter. 

Next up for the Nets will be a few days off before the head the Washington to play against John Wall and the Wizards.