By Sam Perley, hornets.com
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The Result
A much tighter game this time around between the Hornets and Nets went in Brooklyn’s favor as it prevailed, 91-88, on Wednesday, Mar. 25 in Charlotte. The Hornets hung with the Nets for most of the game but couldn’t make some key defensive stops in the final minute as Brooklyn edged out Charlotte for the win to claim the season series and playoff tiebreaker. Al Jefferson and Gerald Henderson each scored a team-high 23 points for Charlotte while Brook Lopez tallied 34 points to leading the visiting Nets.
Turning Points
A back-and-forth battle came down to the final minute after Gerald Henderson drained a jumper to tie the game at 83-83 with just over a minute remaining. Brook Lopez sank a pair of free throws on the ensuing Nets possession after an Al Jefferson foul to put Brooklyn back on top 85-83. Jefferson would then redeem himself on the other end for Charlotte with a made layup to draw the score even once again before Lopez countered with another two points of his own to give the Nets a 87-85 lead with 23 seconds remaining. The Hornets were then unable to respond on their next possession after Kemba Walker’s driving layup banked off the backboard and into the hands of Joe Johnson. Charlotte did end up with one final chance to tie the game with just over three seconds remaining but turned it over on the inbounds which sealed the game and season series for Brooklyn.
Inside the Box Score
Al Jefferson tied for Charlotte’s team high in both points (23) and rebounds (10)… Gerald Henderson also finished with 23 points and has scored in double figures in 14 of his last 16 games… Kemba Walker finished with 11 points and a team-high-tying six assists… Michael Kidd-Gilchrist finished with six points, a team-high-tying 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocks… Mo Williams tallied nine points on 2-of-10 shooting, four rebounds and a team-high-tying six assists off the bench… Bismack Biyombo tallied five points and eight rebounds in the loss… Brook Lopez finished just shy of his season best tallying a game-high 34 points and also leading the Nets with 10 rebounds… Alan Anderson (13), Thaddeus Young (11) and Deron Williams (10) also finished in double figures for Brooklyn… Williams dished out a game-high 14 assists for his second straight double-double and eighth overall on the season… Charlotte edged out Brooklyn in the rebounding battle, 51-46… The Nets scored 54 points in the paint compared to the Hornets who managed just 36.
Hornets Player of the Game
Al Jefferson showed no signs of his troublesome right knee, leading the Hornets with 23 points on 11-of-19 shooting, 10 rebounds, two assists and two blocks. Jefferson recorded his 21st double-double of the season and has now scored in double figures in 20 of his last 24 games.
Nets Player of the Game
Brook Lopez was unstoppable for the Nets, finishing with 34 points on a season-high 16 made field goals, 10 rebounds, two steals and three blocks. Lopez tallied his 12th double-double of the season and has scored 20-or-more points in four consecutive games.
Game Notes
All three games between Brooklyn and Charlotte this season were won by the road team… Thaddeus Young left the game in the third quarter with a hyperextended left knee and did not return… Brooklyn has won five of its last seven games while the Hornets have dropped five of six.
Next Up
The Hornets will hit the road for a showdown with the Wizards at 7 p.m. on Friday, Mar. 27 in Washington. The game can be seen on FOX SportsSouth or heard on WFNZ or on the official Charlotte Hornets mobile app.