Nets Vs. Raptors Final Score: Toronto Dominates New Jersey, 98-67

The New Jersey Nets were dominated by the Toronto Raptors on Thursday night, 98-67, in their last game before they move to Brooklyn. It was hardly the send-off the team was looking for. The Nets shot just 30.1 percent from the floor with Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace on the sidelines.

Anthony Morrow and Armon Johnson each scored 11 points to lead New Jersey, but went just 4-for-12 and 3-for-10 shooting from the floor to get there, respectively. Gerald Green went 4-for-13, Jordan Williams went 5-for-13 and MarShon Brooks went 4-for-17 in what was one of the ugliest losses of the season.

Not that the Raptors were particularly hot. As a team they were just 42 percent from the floor. They killed the Nets on the boards, however, hauling in 58 rebound to 39 for New Jersey. Ben Uzoh recorded his first career triple-double with 12 points, 12 assists and 11 rebounds. Forward Ed Davis had a career high 24 points in the win.

For more on the Nets, please be sure to visit our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Nets At Raptors Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets recently played their final home game at the Prudential Center, but Thursday night is the final game for the team before it officially adopts Brooklyn as its new home.

The Nets will travel to take on Toronto in a game that means little for either side, as each has long been remained out of the playoff chase, and both are hopeful that next season will mark a turnaround year.

New Jersey is 2-1 against the Raptors this season, and a win tonight would keep them out of the basement of the Atlantic Division.

Deron Williams, who will exercise the opt-out clause in his contract and become an unrestricted free agent this summer, could be playing his final game as a Net.

Game Time: 8:00 p.m. EST

TV Coverage: YES

For more on the Nets, please be sure to visit our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

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For all things Nets, check out SB Nation's NetsDaily.

Nets Fall To Sixers In New Jersey Finale, 105-87

The New Jersey Nets played their final game in the Garden State Monday before their move to Brooklyn and it went down about the only way that would be appropriate. Sure, the Philadelphia 76ers beat the Nets, 105-87, to clinch a playoff spot but it was still the home team that took center stage.

Playing with just 10 healthy players, Avery Johnson's crew couldn't match the energy of the first true sold out crowd of the season. In what had to be an odd feeling for the Nets, the fans in the stands weren't there to cheer for the road team and tried to push New Jersey to one final victory.

Smelling the chance at the playoffs, however, the Sixers took the bull by the horns right from the first minutes. Philadelphia built a 15 point lead in the second quarter and took a 10 point lead into halftime. The Nets did their best to mount a comeback, fight all the way back to within one point late in the third quarter before the Sixers took back control.

Deron Williams missed his fourth straight game with a calf injury and may not play again this season for the Nets. Rookie MarShon Brooks had a game-high 18 points while Kris Humphries added another double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds.

The stars of the evening were the Nets players of the past that the franchise honored throughout the game. There were video messages from familiar names of the past like Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Brian Scalabrine and Byron Scott along with a halftime ceremony to honor the 2001-02 NBA Finals squad. Kerry Kittles and Brian Todd MacCulloch presented the 2002 and 2003 Eastern Conference championship trophies to the crowd.

Now that their final game in New Jersey is behind them, the Nets have just one more game before officially moving the franchise to Brooklyn. That game will come Thursday night on the road against the Toronto Raptors.

Nets Schedule 2012: Two Games Are Left Before The Move To Brooklyn

It has to be a sad time for New Jersey Nets fans, who have supported the team through thick and thin in the Garden State.

The Nets have been a fixture for the past 35 years, mostly at Brendan Byrne Arena (then Continental Airlines before becoming the Izod Center). It's been a rough go of it for most of that time, with a beautiful run mixed in a decade ago with Jason Kidd running the show, leading New Jersey to it's only two NBA Finals appearances.

Now, the Nets have two games to play before packing their belongings and moving to Brooklyn, a borough that has been longing for a team since the Dodgers left town in 1957.

Maybe Walter O'Malley will finally be forgiven. Then again, never mind that foolish thought. Alas, the final games of the New Jersey Nets:

On Monday they will host their final game by welcoming the Philadelphia 76ers into town. The 76ers are looking to clinch a playoff berth with a win.

New Jersey will simply be looking to snap a four game losing streak and leave their fans on a high note.

Thursday brings the final day of the regular season with a trip to Toronto. Both teams are out of it and this will be nothing more than a showing of pride.

Deron Williams also might be playing his last game in a New Jersey uniform, as most experts believe he'll be moving on sooner rather than later.

For more on the Nets, please be sure to visit our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Nets Vs. Bucks Final Score: Milwaukee Tips New Jersey, 106-95

The shorthanded New Jersey Nets fell to the Milwaukee Bucks 106-95 on Saturday night, dropping the team to 22-42 overall and 13-19 on the road this season.

Five Nets players put up double figure scoring efforts, led by 18 points from Gerald Wallace, but that was not enough to overcome the desperate Bucks, who cling to hope in the Eastern Conference for the final playoff spot.

New Jersey, who was playing without guard Deron Williams for the third straight game, had no defense for Bucks point guard Brandon Jennings, who finished with 30 points on 9-18 shooting.

The Bucks are now three games behind Philadelphia for eighth place in the East, and will need to win out while having the 76ers losing all of their remaining games for a spot in the postseason.

The Nets next take the court on Monday night, when they host Philadelphia at the Prudential Center.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Dwight Howard's Back Surgery Could Help The New Jersey Nets Keep Deron Williams

Nets Schedule 2012: Nets In Milwaukee To Face Bucks

The New Jersey Nets have nothing meaningful left to play for this season and losing the remainder of their games is probably best for the franchise – not that they're trying to lose.

Currently, they're tied with the Toronto Raptors for the sixth worst record in the NBA, which means they would have roughly a 21 percent chance of winning a top three draft pick in the NBA Lottery. If they fail to earn a top three pick in this year's draft, their pick will go to the Blazers because of the Gerald Wallace trade. Best case scenario, they can fall to third worst and have 46 percent chance at a top three pick.

They play the Bucks in Milwaukee this weekend. The Bucks are fighting for their Playoff lives.

Another team for Nets fans to keep an eye on is the Houston Rockets, who have lost six straight and fallen out of the Playoffs. If they miss the Playoffs, the Nets will receive their first round pick.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Knicks Vs. Nets: Big Night From 'Melo Powers New York To 104-95 Win

Carmelo Anthony scored 33 points on Wednesday night as the New York Knicks beat the New Jersey Nets by a final score of 104-95. The win keeps them in the seventh spot in the NBA Eastern Conference playoff picture.

Anthony scored 21 of his 33 points in the opening quarter, giving the Knicks a 38-22 lead after the first period. It was the third game in a row that Anthony topped the 30-point mark and the sixth time in his last nine games to break that barrier. This without Amare Stoudemire and Jeremy Lin.

Deron Williams was out again for the Nets, still dealing with a sore calf. Gerald Wallace led New Jersey with 21 points. Sundiata Gaines had 18 points, and Kris Humphries had 15 rebounds on the night.

Three of the Knicks last four games are on the road, starting Friday in Cleveland. The Nets have three games left, starting Saturday in Milwaukee. They play their last game in New Jersey on Monday, April 23, before moving to Brooklyn next season.

For more on the Knicks and Nets, please be sure to check out our respective blogs Posting and Toasting along with Nets Daily. Also take a peek at SB Nation New York for all the latest news and notes.

Knicks Vs. Nets Preview: Game Time, TV, Schedule And More

After defeating the Boston Celtics on Tuesday night, Carmelo Anthony and the New York Knicks have to be feeling like the playoffs aren't far away. Beating the New Jersey Nets would take them one step closer to realizing that postseason berth.

Of course, getting that win won't be easy. The Nets have been playing better lately, sporting a 7-6 record in their last 13 affairs including a narrow three-point loss to the Heat on Monday.

However, it's the Knicks who should be playing with a certain measure of desperation. With talk of Amare Stoudemire returning on Friday, New York has even more incentive to clinch a playoff spot sooner rather than later. At least that way Stoudemire could return without pressure and ease his way back into the lineup.

The Knicks are currently lead the Milwaukee Bucks by two and a half games (two in the loss column) with the tiebreaker in hand. At this point, it would take a total collapse to miss the playoffs.

This game also has historical significance, as it will be the last time these two play each other in the great state of New Jersey. After 35 years, the Nets will be taking their act across the river to Brooklyn next year.

TV: MSG

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

For more on the Knicks and Nets, please be sure to check out our respective blogs Posting and Toasting along with Nets Daily. Also take a peek at SB Nation New York for all the latest news and notes.

Nets Vs. Heat Final Score: New Jersey Falls As Miami Completes Big 4th-Quarter Rally

The New Jersey Nets led for the better part of four quarters over the Miami Heat on Monday night, but LeBron James was simply too good late in the game. He scored Miami's final 17 points, helping the Heat overcome a 96-87 deficit with 2:18 to play to give Miami a 101-98 victory.

The Nets held a three-point lead at halftime and led by as many as 13 points in the third quarter. New Jersey held Miami without a point for a nearly three-minute stretch as the Nets built their lead with strong play from Kris Humphries and Gerald Green in particular.

Humphries finished with a team-high 29 points and eight rebounds, while Green added 15 points all in the second half. MarShon Brooks pitched in 24 points, seven rebounds and six assists, but ultimately it wasn't quite enough for the Nets, who were without Deron Williams.

James finished with 37 points, while Chris Bosh added 22 points and 15 rebounds. Miami was without Dwyane Wade, and no other Miami player finished in double-digits scoring.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily.

NBA Standings 2012: New Jersey Nets And The Draft Lottery

Although the New Jersey Nets are 22-39 on the season and have been eliminated from playoff contention for a while, the five games left on their schedule could still have serious NBA Draft Lottery implications.

As it stands, the Nets are the seventh-worst team in the NBA, but only half a game up on Toronto and Cleveland, and one game behind Detroit and Golden State. The Nets could conceivably finish anywhere from the fifth-worst team to the 10th-worst – a difference between a 20 percent chance at a top-three pick and a four percent chance.

If the Nets don't draft in the top three, the Portland Trail Blazers will receive their first-rounder, from the Gerald Wallace trade.

The Nets also have interest-in the Western Conference standings, because if the Rockets miss the playoffs, New Jersey will receive their first round pick.

Best case scenario, the Nets could have two picks in the top 14, including a top-three pick.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Celtics: New Jersey Comes Up Short In Second Half Loss To Boston, 94-82

New Jersey's slow start in the second half leads to another home loss.

Nets-76ers Score: New Jersey Defeats Philly, 95-89

The New Jersey Nets won their third out of their last four games on Friday night on the road in Philadelphia's Wells Fargo Center, defeating the 76ers by a score of 95-89. This snapped a two game winning streak by the Sixers. The Nets now have a 22-38 record, which puts them in 11th place in the Eastern Conference and in fourth place in the Atlantic Division. The Sixers are now 31-28, which puts them in eighth place in the conference and one spot ahead of the Nets in the division.

The Nets were led by Gerald Green, who came off the bench to score 23 points. MarShon Brooks added 22 and Kris Humphries chipped in 18. Jordan Williams also came off the bench to add 13 points. Jrue Holiday led the Sixers with 19 points. Evan Turner came off the bench to add 18 points while Thaddeus Young, who also came off the bench, added 13, and Andre Iguodala scored 11.

The Nets will look to build off their win Saturday evening against the Boston Celtics for their first of three home games at 7:30 p.m. (ET), while the Sixers will look to bounce back on Monday evening in Orlando against the Magic.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily, for more on the Sixers, head to Liberty Ballers, and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Schedule 2012: Nets Travel To Philly Before Hosting The Celtics

At 21-38, the New Jersey Nets don't have much to play for in the final seven games of the 2011-12 NBA Regular Season. They were officially eliminated from the Playoffs a while ago, and because there are ping pong balls with Anthony Davis' name on it at stake, it's probably in the Nets' best interest to lose as many games as possible.

As it stands, the Nets have a 4.3 percent chance chance of winning the number one overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft Lottery. Losing out could potential increase those odds to 12 percent. Luckily, not much tanking should be required for the Nets this weekend, because they play two Playoff team in the Philadelphia 76ers and Boston Celtics.

The Nets are 1-1 against the Sixers this season, losing as recently as Tuesday night, and 0-2 versus the Celtics.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

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Nets Vs. 76ers Final Score: New Jersey Flops In Second Half Against Philadelphia

A tight game through two quarters quickly got out of hand on Tuesday night, as the New Jersey Nets fell 107-88 at home to the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia used a strong third quarter to expand its lead heading into the final frame, and the Nets couldn't get enough going in the fourth to creep back into it.

Kris Humphries did his part for New Jersey, finishing with a team-high 20 points and 10 rebounds, his fourth double-double in his past five outings.

But Philadelphia's bench proved too much for the Nets, as the trio of Lou Williams, Thaddeus Young and Spencer Hawes teamed up for 58 points from their reserve roles.

With the loss, New Jersey drops to 9-20 at home this season and 21-38 overall. The Nets will next take the court on Friday when they rematch with the 76ers in Philadelphia.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. 76ers Halftime Score: Philly Up 52-43

Halfway through the New Jersey Nets contest with the Philadelphia 76ers, New Jersey finds themselves down 52-43.

Deron Williams and Kris Humphries, the two most consistent Nets throughout this difficult season, have led the scoring effort with 24 combined points on just 8-19 shooting.

Gerald Green, who has settled in with New Jersey and appears to have re-cemented his status as a legitimate NBA shooting guard, came of the bench to chip in six points.

The stakes are high for Philadelphia, as they now stand just a game and a half up on Milwaukee in the Eastern Conference standings, and could fall behind the New York Knicks with a loss and a Knicks win later Tuesday night.

Center Spencer Hawes is doing his part to keep Philly afloat, shooting 5-6 and contributing 11 points in a reserve role.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. 76ers Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

With eight games remaining in the regular season and virtually no chance of making the playoffs, the New Jersey Nets have a chance to play spoiler in the coming weeks.

That starts on Tuesday night when they play host to the Philadelphia 76ers, a division opponent who they will face three times in their last eight games.

After starting strong and ramping up its defensive efforts throughout the early part of the season en route to a comfortable lead in the Atlantic Division, the 76ers have rapidly tumbled down the standings and now are fighting just to keep hold of their spot in the Eastern Conference playoff picture.

The Nets are seeking to record their fourth straight win at home, and second straight over the 76ers.

Game Time: 7:30 p.m. EST

TV Coverage: YES

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Cavaliers Final Score: New Jersey Hangs On For 122-117 Overtime Victory

Cleveland Cavaliers forward Antwan Jamison scored a game-high 34 points, but New Jersey Nets forward Gerald Green nearly matched him with 32. The effort was good enough to help the Nets pull out a slim 122-117 overtime victory Sunday at the Prudential Center. The results made New Jersey winners of six of its last nine games, while Cleveland is 1-11 in its last 12 games.

In overtime, the Nets used a small 6-0 run to push a 113-112 lead to 119-112 with 1:49 to play. The spark would be enough to hang. Anthony Morrow scored 24 points, while Kris Humphries added 16 and 11 rebounds.

Lester Hudson netted 26 points for the Cavaliers, who went 12-for-24 from behind the 3-point arc. Alonzo Gee tallied 22 points and collected 11 rebounds.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Cavaliers: New Jersey, Deron Williams Hopes To Continue Winning Ways

Despite having little or no shot at a playoff berth, the New Jersey Nets have been still playing hard and winning basketball games. The Nets will try to keep that trend going Sunday, when they host the struggling Cleveland Cavaliers at the Prudential Center (6 p.m. ET on YES Network).

The Nets (20-37) are winners of five of their last eight contests, and will face an opponent that will be missing their best player, rookie guard Kyrie Irving, and are 1-9 in their last 10 games.

On Friday, New Jersey downed another NBA cellar-dweller in the Washington Wizards 110-98. Battling the flu, point guard Deron Williams tallied 19 points and 13 assists. Meanwhile, the Cavaliers snapped a 10-game losing streak with a 84-80 victory over the Toronto Raptors.

Overall, the season series favors the Cavs' 2-1.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets 110, Wizards 98: New Jersey Defeats Struggling Wizards At Home

The New Jersey Nets defeated the Washington Wizards on Friday night at home in the Prudential Center by a score of 110-98. With the win, the Nets snapped a two-game losing streak and gives them a 20-37 record, which puts them in 12th place in the Eastern Conference and in last place in the Atlantic Division. The Wizards, on the other hand, have now lost five in a row and 10 of their last 11 games. They have a 12-44 record, which puts them in 14th place in the conference and in second-to-last place in the Southeast division.

The Nets were led by Deron Williams and Gerald Wallace, who each scored 19 points. MarShon Brooks added 18 points and Anthony Morrow came off the bench to chip in 17. The Wizards were led by John Wall, who scored 18 points, while Kevin Seraphin scored 15. Roger Mason also came off the bench to add 15 and James Singleton added 12.

The Nets will look to build off this win Sunday evening at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers at 6 p.m. (ET), and the Wizards will look to get something positive going on Monday evening in Charlotte against the Bobcats.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and for more updates throughout the season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Wizards Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets return home on Friday, as they host the Washington Wizards at the Prudential Center in Newark, NJ. This contest will tip off at 7:30 p.m. ET on the YES Network and will be the rubber match of this three-game, season-series which is tied at one game apiece.

The Nets return home after a lengthy West Coast road trip that ended with a 100-88 loss to the Portland Trailblazers on Wednesday. New Jersey shot just 33-percent from the floor, as it was missing its best player in point guard Deron Willaims, who was a late scratch due to a stomach flu. The hope is Williams can return for Friday's contest.

Meanwhile, the Wizards have lost nine of their last 10 games, including four straight. That lone victory came against the Nets in an impressive 108-89 performance.

For more on the Nets, be sure to check out our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Nets Vs. Trailblazers Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets will look to finish off their west coast road trip with a victory over the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday night in the Rose Garden.

New Jersey is playing its best basketball of the season right now. The Nets have won four of their previous six including a 2-1 mark on their current four game road trip, with their only loss coming by four to the Los Angeles Lakers.

Kris Humphries has been leading the charge lately, with double-doubles in back-to-back games. Gerald Wallace has also stepped up, averaging slightly over 20 points per game over a three-game span.

Portland on the other hand continues to be a seesaw type of team. In their last nine dates, the Blazers have alternated wins and losses with their last game a defeat at the hands of the Utah Jazz.

Humphries will have his hands full with LaMarcus Aldridge. The Texas product is scoring better than 21 points per game this season.

Once New Jersey gets tonight over with, six of their next seven contests are at the Prudential Center. The first two games are against the Washington Wizards and Cleveland Cavaliers, so Avery Johnson's group could potentially get on a very nice roll here in the early stages of April.

TV: YES

Time: 10:00 p.m. ET

For more on the Nets, be sure to check out our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Nets Vs. Lakers Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets look for their fourth straight win on Tuesday night when they visit the Los Angeles Lakers. (Game Time: 10:30 p.m., TV Schedule: YES)

New Jersey is dealing with a rash of injuries by playing some of its best basketball this season, including a 111-99 domination of the Sacramento Kings on Saturday that gave New Jersey two straight wins to open a four-game Western Conference road trip. Deron Williams led the cause with 19 points and 15 assists, Anthony Morrow paced the scoring with 24 points off the bench, and Gerald Wallace (18 points), Kris Humphries (14 points, 12 rebounds) and Johan Petro (12 points, five rebounds, four assists) all reached double figures.

Los Angeles could be without Andrew Bynum Tuesday night. The center suffered a moderate sprained ankle on Sunday when Los Angeles earned its second straight win, a 120-112 affair against the Golden St. Warriors.

For more on the Nets, check out the SB Nation blog NetsDaily.

Nets Schedule 2012: West Coast Road Trip Continues With Lakers Tuesday

The New Jersey Nets continue their west coast road trip this week with a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers on Tuesday and the Portland Trail Blazers on Wednesday. The Nets enter the week on a three-game winning streak, taking out the Pacers, Warriors and Kings. A 33-20 Lakers squad trying to hold off the Clippers for the No. 3 seed in the West should present a much stiffer challenge, however.

The Nets finally go back home Friday, where they will face a Washington Wizards squad that has lost seven of their last eight games. Coming off a cross-country stint, New Jersey may need the reprieve.

Here's the complete Nets weekday schedule with TV/Radio information:

Tuesday, 4/3: Nets @ Lakers (10:30 p.m. ET, TV/Radio: YESHD/WFAN 660)

Wednesday, 4/4: Nets @ Trail Blazers (10:00 p.m. ET, TV/Radio: YESHD/WFAN 660)

Friday, 4/6: Nets vs. Wizards (7:30 p.m. ET, TV/Radio: YESHD/WFAN 660)

For more on the Nets, check out the SB Nation blog NetsDaily.

Nets 111, Kings 99: Win Streak Reaches Three

Sacramento, CA (Sports Network) - Anthony Morrow connected on six three- pointers en route to 24 points and the Nets took down the Kings 111-99 at Power Balance Pavilion on Saturday.

Deron Williams poured in 19 points and handed out 15 assists, Gerald Wallace netted 18 points and Kris Humphries recorded a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who secured their season-high third straight victory.

Nets Vs. Kings Preview: Game Time, TV, Radio And More

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to pick up their first three-game winning streak of the season Saturday night when they take on the Sacramento Kings at Power Balance Pavilion. It will be the Nets second of four games on their current West Coast swing.

Avery Johnson's crew kicked off their road trip Friday night with a thrilling come-from-behind victory over the Golden State Warriors. The two Geralds -- Wallace and Green -- combined for 44 points and Deron Williams handed out 20 assists as New Jersey climbed out of a 19 point fourth quarter deficit.

The Kings, like the Nets, are looking towards June's draft and had lost four straight before squeaking past the Utah Jazz, 104-103, Friday night. Volatile DeMarcus Cousins carried Sacramento with 27 points and 14 rebounds and will look for another big game against a thin New Jersey front line.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 10:00 p.m.

The Nets continue their road trip Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nets 102, Warriors 100: Deron Williams Hands Out 20 Assists

Oakland, CA (Sports Network) - Gerald Green delivered the go-ahead basket in the final minute and Deron Williams helped the Nets rally from a 19-point third quarter deficit to post a 102-100 win over the Golden State Warriors.

Williams had 20 assists, one off a career-high, as New Jersey erased a 14- point hole early in the fourth to post back-to-back victories for the first time since March 7-9.

Nets Vs. Warriors Preview: Game Time, TV, Radio And More

The New Jersey Nets kick off a four-game West Coast swing Friday night when they take on the Golden State Warriors at the Oracle Arena.

While heading on these trips is usually difficult for struggling teams like the Nets, there is only one matchup — Tuesday against the Los Angeles Lakers — New Jersey will find themselves as heavy underdogs. The Warriors are in full-on tank mode as they try to hold onto their first round pick that is owned by the Utah Jazz, but top 7 protected.

On top of trading away star Monta Ellis, the Warriors have dropped eight of 10, including a 102-87 setback to the New Orleans Hornets Wednesday night. Former New York Knicks forward David Lee led the Warriors with 28 points while rookie Klay Thompson added 13.

The Nets will bring to Oakland the momentum from a 100-84 victory over the playoff-bound Indiana Pacers. Deron Williams scored a game-high 30 points and handed out nine assists and rookie MarShon Brooks had 17.

Despite the victory, New Jersey continued piling up the injuries. Both Shelden Williams (eye) and Jordan Williams (concussion symptoms) left the win over the Pacers and Shelden did not make the trip with his teammates.

Golden State can relate to the injury problems. The Warriors will be without Andrew Bogut, Stephen Curry and Andris Biedrins.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 10:30 p.m.

The Nets road trip will continue Saturday night when they head to Sacramento to take on the Kings.

Nets Vs. Pacers Final Score: Deron Williams Leads New Jersey To 100-84 Victory

The New Jersey Nets hosted the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday night in Newark. The Nets dominated much of the game and were able to play a bit of a spoiler as they handed Indiana a key loss for the Pacers, who are attempting to hold a good position in the playoff race. The Nets improved their home record to 7-19 with a 100-84 win.

The Nets held a 49-43 lead heading into halftime, but fell behind early in the second quarter. New Jersey was able to regroup and regain the lead before outscoring Indiana handily in the fourth quarter to finish with a comfortable lead.

Deron Williams led all players in the game with 30 points and nine assists.

For all news and information regarding the New Jersey Nets, please visit NetsDaily or SB Nation New York. For updates and perspective regarding the Indiana Pacers, head on over to Indy Cornrows or check out SB Nation Indiana.

Nets Vs. Pacers Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets will try to get back on the winning track Wednesday night when the Indiana Pacers come to town.

It won't be an easy task considering how bad the Nets (16-35) have bad all season and how surprisingly efficient the Pacers (29-19) have continued to be.

New Jersey has lost six of its last seven and barring a miracle of epic proportions, will miss the playoffs for fifth straight season.

This will be the fourth and final meeting between the two teams this season, with Indiana having won the previous three rather easily.

Deron Williams will need to have a big game for the Nets to stay in this one, which is hardly news. Williams has averaged 21.8 points and 8.2 assists per game, leading the team in both categories.

The one difference tonight will be Brook Lopez, who was absent in the first three games with the Pacers. He will have to contend with Roy Hibbert in the paint.

Indiana is a tough team to play because so many different players can hurt you. The Pacers don't really have a superstar on the squad, but between Paul George, Danny Granger, David West and others, they can cause matchup problems all over the court.

TV: YES

Time: 7:00 p.m. ET

For more Nets coverage, be sure to check out our blog Nets Daily and SB Nation New York for all the latest news and updates.

Jazz 105, Nets 84: New Jersey Sputters In Loss To Utah

The Utah Jazz were coming off a quadruple overtime loss just 24 hours prior and playing on the road. Monday night, they looked like the more energized team as the New Jersey Nets couldn't figure anything out on the offensive end. The Nets lost 105-84 for their eighth time in 10 games.

New Jersey shot just 35.8 percent from the floor and never led after a taking brief lead in the closing seconds of the first quarter. The Nets made just 29 field goals to 45 for the Jazz. New Jersey had a chance to make up the difference with free throw shooting, but made just 21 of 35 attempts while Utah went 16-for-18 from the charity stripe.

Deron Williams went just 7-for-21 from the floor on his way to 17 points. Gerald Green had a nice night to lead the team with 20 points, 12 of which came on 3-pointers, but his efforts weren't enough to fully pick up the slack elsewhere. Not including Green, the Nets went 1-for-13 from beyond the arc (1-for-7 for Williams).

The Jazz, meanwhile, shot 51.9 percent from the floor thanks to solid performances from their big men. Paul Millsap had 24 points on 10-for-14 shooting and 13 rebounds. Al Jefferson added 19 points on 9-for-14 from the floor and eight rebounds. Former Nets points guard Devin Harris picked up 11 assists, falling just one point shy of his second straight double-double.

For more on the Nets head to Nets Daily, and to follow the Nets throughout the 2012 season stay tuned to SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Jazz Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets will welcome Devin Harris and Derrick Favors back to the Prudential Center for the first time since they were traded last year when the Utah Jazz visit on Monday night.

Harris and Favors -- unlike the Nets -- are in the middle of the playoff run and will be looking for a much needed victory in New Jersey after a 139-133 setback to the Atlanta Hawks Sunday night. If losing wasn't bad enough, it took them four overtimes, which forced their starters to play a total of 265 minutes and 37 seconds.

The Nets should be able to take advantage of the tired legs thanks to a day off after an easy 102-89 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats Sunday. All five New Jersey starters scored in double figures, led by Kris Humphries, who scored 20 points to go along with 16 rebounds.

Humphries will face a stout Utah front line, headlined by Al Jefferson (9.4 rebounds per game) and Paul Millsap (8.9). The forwards combined for 30 boards against the Hawks.

Utah downed New Jersey, 107-94, when the teams met on Jan. 14.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

After another day off, the Nets will take on the Indiana Pacers Wednesday night at The Rock.

Nets Vs. Bobcats Final Score: Kris Humphries, Deron Williams Lead New Jersey Past Charlotte

In a matchup of Eastern Conference bottom feeders, the New Jersey Nets defeated the Charlotte Bobcats 102-89 on Saturday night behind another exceptional outing from forward Kris Humphries.

Humphries finished his evening with 20 points and 16 rebounds, both of which were game highs. Deron and Shelden Williams each had double doubles for New Jersey, as Deron finished with 19 points and 14 assists while Shelden added 10 points and 11 boards.

Byron Mullens led the way for the woeful Bobcats, finishing with 17 points on 6-9 shooting.

Trade deadline acquistion Gerald Wallace had 15 points, seven rebounds and three steals for New Jersey, who was able to avoid a second loss in as many nights.

The Nets will next take the court on Monday night when they host the surging Utah Jazz.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and to follow the Nets through the 2012 season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Bobcats Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

Two of the worst teams in the NBA face off Saturday night at The Prudential Center in Newark when the New Jersey Nets host the Charlotte Bobcats. The Nets have lost five straight and seven of eight while the Bobcats are losers of two in a row along with seven of nine.

New Jersey fell to the Atlanta Hawks on Friday, 93-84, after building an 11 point lead entering the fourth quarter. Deron Williams, fresh off an ejection just two days earlier, paced the Nets with 20 points and eight assists, while Kris Humphries chipped in 17 points and eight rebounds.

Charlotte lost to the Milwaukee Bucks at home Friday night, 112-92, to preserve their spot at the bottom of the NBA standings. Gerald Henderson exploded for 29 points against Milwaukee to lead the Bobcats. Derrick Brown and Kemba Walker both had 13 off the bench.

The Nets have already beaten the Bobcats three times this season and have a chance for the four-game sweep.

You can see the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily and to follow the Nets through the 2012 season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Hawks: New Jersey Loses Fifth In A Row In Atlanta, 93-84

The New Jersey Nets lost their fifth game in a row on Friday night as they fell to the Atlanta Hawks on the road in Philips Arena by a score of 93-84. With the win, Atlanta has a 28-20 record, which is good for sixth place in the Eastern Conference and third place in the Southeast division behind the Heat and Magic. The Nets are in 13th place in the conference with a 15-34 record, and in last place in the Atlantic Division.

The Nets were led by Deron Williams, who scored 20 points in the loss to the Hawks. Kris Humphries added 17 points and Anthony Morrow came off the bench to chip in 11 as well. The Hawks were led by Josh Smith, who scored 30 points at home against New Jersey. Jeff Teague added 17 and Joe Johnson chipped in 16 points.

The Nets will try to avoid losing their sixth game in a row on Saturday at home against the Charlotte Bobcats at 7:30 p.m., while the Hawks travel to Washington to play the Wizards on Saturday at 7 p.m.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily, for more on the Hawks, visit Peachtree Hoops, and to follow the Nets through the 2012 season, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Vs. Hawks Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to stop a four-game losing streak that ended their slim playoff hopes when they travel to take on the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night at Philips Arena.

Things hit a tipping point for Avery Johnson and Deron Williams Wednesday against the Washington Wizards. Both were ejected in the 108-89 loss after Williams was once again abused going to the rim without getting a call. The point guard scored a team-high 17 points before his early exit while Gerald Wallace, Kris Humphries and Anthony Morrow each added 13.

While the playoffs are out of the picture for the Nets, things are very different for the Hawks, currently holding down the No. 6 spot in the Eastern Conference. Atlanta has won three of four, including a 103-102 overtime victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Wednesday. Josh Smith powered the Hawks in the win, scoring 32 points and pulling down 17 rebounds while logging 51 minutes.

New Jersey could be without Jordan Farmar as he nurses a groin injury and Shelden Williams has a sore shoulder but has yet to miss a game (the only Net able to make that claim this season).

You can watch the game on YES or listen on Bloomberg 1130 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Nets Vs. Wizards: New Jersey Loses Fourth Straight, 108-89

Make it four in a row for the New Jersey Nets. They lost to a rejuvenated Washington Wizards team by a final score of 108-89 on Wednesday night.

The frustration boiled over for Deron Williams and head coach Avery Johnson. Both players were ejected for arguing with the refs as the game unraveled in the third quarter. The pair wanted a call on Williams' drive to the net from referee Josh Tiven.

Nene made his debut in a Wizards uniform after coming over in a trade with the Nuggets last week. He had a double-double in his Wizards debut, scoring 22 points and pulling in 10 rebounds. Jordan Crawford led the team with 23 points.

Washington shot better than 48 percent from the field. The Nets struggled, hitting less than 37 percent of their shots.

Williams led the Nets with 17 points. Kris Humphries, Anthony Morrow and Gerald Wallace each had 13 points. Humphries also finished with 16 rebounds.

The Nets travel to Atlanta on Friday.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Wizards Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets hope to end a three-game losing streak Wednesday night when they take on the Washington Wizards at the Prudential Center in Newark. Things aren't going much better for the Wizards, losers of two in a row and five of six.

Last time out the Nets fell just short against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-100. Deron Williams, frustrated by the officials all night, led the Nets with 28 points, while the recently acquired Gerald Wallace added 27 points and 12 rebounds.

After getting a close look at rookie sensation Kyrie Irving on Monday, the Nets get to face another young, exciting point guard in Washington's John Wall. He is averaging 17.6 points and 7.9 assists per game and is fresh off a 25-point performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday night.

The Nets will also get a look at Nene, a player they went after hard in free agency this past summer. This will be the big man's first game with the Wizards since being traded by the Denver Nuggets at the deadline.

You can see the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Nets Vs. Cavaliers Final Score: New Jersey Stumbles, 105-100, At Home

The New Jersey Nets have now lost three straight, and five of their last six after stumbling against the Cleveland Cavaliers, 105-100, at home on Monday night. Neither team led by more than six points during a fourth quarter that featured six lead changed and five ties. Deron Williams turned down what would have been a game-tying 3-pointer with 13 seconds to go, instead attempting to feed the ball in down low. Omri Casspi got the steal to solidify the New Jersey loss as Kyrie Erving sunk two free throws on the other end.

Gerald Wallace played well in his second appearance with New Jersey since being traded from the Portland Trail Blazers, putting up 27 points and 12 rebounds in the loss. Williams led New Jersey with 28 points and eight assists, including 17 points in the second quarter to keep the Nets within three at halftime after being outscored 30-17 in the first quarter.

Kyrie Irving got the better of Williams on the other end in the fourth quarter, however. The rookie point guard scored 14 in the game's final stanza, including the Cavs' final six points of the game. Tristan Thompson, another rookie, had a career night at the Prudential Center with 27 points and 12 rebounds. His tip-shot put the Nets up for good, 99-97, with 1:10 remaining in the game.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Cavaliers Preview: Game Time, TV Schedule And More

The New Jersey Nets have a chance to pick up a game on one of the five teams they are chasing for that elusive final playoff spot Monday night when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Prudential Center in Newark. Sitting seven games back in the loss column paints a bleak pictures for the Nets, but the team still believes they can make a run and that will need to start with the Cavs.

Last time out against the struggling New Orleans Hornets, New Jersey couldn't close the deal. After leading most of the game, the Nets fell apart in the fourth quarter, scoring just 12 points. Deron Williams and Anthony Morrow led the Nets with 20 points off the bench, while the emerging Gerald Green added 16 off the bench.

Cleveland is led by soon-to-be Rookie of the Year Kyrie Irving, who will try to stop a three game Cavaliers skid, including a tough 103-87 loss to the Atlanta Hawks on Sunday night.

Avery Johnson will be without the services of Jordan Farmar, meaning D-League call-up Jerry Smith could see upwards of 15 minutes in a backup roll previously held by Sundiata Gaines. Recently acquired Gerald Wallace also should play a bigger role now that he has had a few days to learn the New Jersey offense.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on Bloomberg 1130 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets will wrap up their short three-game home stand Wednesday night against the Washington Wizards.

Nets Vs. Hornets Final Score: New Jersey Falls To New Orleans

A rough weekend for the Nets continued on Saturday night, as New Jersey fell 102-94 to New Orleans at home.

Deron Williams, who returned to the court after missing Friday night's blowout loss to Orlando, scored 20 points and dished out an additional 12 assists for the Nets. But his efforts and a combined 36 points from reserves Gerald Green and Anthony Morrow weren't enough to push New Jersey passed the struggling Hornets.

New Orleans was lead by 20 points apiece by guard Marco Bellineli and center Chris Kaman.

The loss pushes New Jersey to 15-31 overall on the season, and 13th overall in the Eastern Conference standings.

Gerald Wallace, whom the Nets acquired leading up to the NBA's trade deadline, had 11 points in 37 minutes of action in his New Jersey debut.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned toSB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Hornets Halftime Score Update: New Jersey Has Slight Lead

A night after being pounded by the Orlando Magic, the Nets welcomed back star guard Deron Williams and have a 51-47 haltime lead over the visiting New Orleans Hornets.

Williams hasn't yet found his shooting touch, missing seven of his 10 attempts, but he's still managed eight points and six assists thus far in 15 minutes. Gerald Green - who has been a revelation for the Nets - already has 12 points off of the bench.

The Hornets have been led by guard Marco Bellinelli's ten points, and forwards Trevor Ariza and Gustavo Ayon have each added eight points and five rebounds.

Both teams have been hot from deep, each hitting on 50 percent of their three point tries.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned toSB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Hornets: Deron Williams Returns For New Jersey

For the first time all season, the New Jersey Nets will take the floor without the drama of the Dwight Howard situation hanging over their heads. With the Magic star staying in Orlando at least through the end of this season, the Nets will shift their focus to what they believe can be a push for the playoffs.

If the Nets are going to be serious about making a move in the standings, it starts Saturday night against the struggling New Orleans Hornets at the Prudential Center in Newark. That kicks off a stretch of six out of seven games at home with all being winnable for Avery Johnson's squad.

New Jersey also gets the benefit of a nearly full roster of players. Brook Lopez is still out with an ankle injury, but injured point guard Deron Williams and Jordan Farmar will return to the court. The Nets also will debut a new starting small forward in former All-Star Gerald Wallace, acquired in a trade with the Portland Trail Blazers before the deadline.

The Hornets, meanwhile, will be playing without the services of Eric Gordon, Carl Landry and Emeka Okafor. They have also dropped three straight and 11 of 14.

You can watch the game locally on YES or list on WFAN 660 with tip schedule for 8:00 p.m.

After a day off to practice for the first time with Wallace, the Nets will be back on the court Monday in Newark against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Nets Vs. Magic: New Jersey Go Cold, Fall To Orlando, 86-70

Dwight Howard led the Orlando Magic over the New Jersey Nets, 86-70 in Orlando Friday night.

The Magic were able to win the game in the trenches, scoring 44 points in the paint to the Nets' 22.

The Nets shot an ice-cold 33.7 percent from the floor and 30 percent from behind the arc. The Nets were paced by Gerald Moore who scored a team-high 14 points.

The Magic had a very balanced attack, as six players scored in double figures, led by Howard's 18. Ryan Anderson killed the Nets on the glass, pulling down a team-high 11 rebounds while scoring 12 points.

The Nets next game will be tomorrow when they return home to play the New Orleans Hornets

For more on the Nets, make sure to visit NetsDaily. For more on the Magic, stop by Orlando Pinstriped Post. For all the latest news around the NBA, visit the SB Nation NBA Hub Page.

Nets Vs. Magic Preview: Dwight Howard Still With Magic As Nets Visit Orlando

In an ironical twist, the New Jersey Nets meet the Orlando Magic Friday night at 7 p.m., just one day after the trade deadline came and went without a Dwight Howard deal.

The Nets reportedly tried to land Howard many times, but settled for acquiring Gerald Wallace at the deadline after Orlando's superstar center waived his opt-out option for next season. The Nets have now turned to 'Plan B,' which likely amounts to trying to surround Deron Williams with as much talent as possible in an attempt to keep Williams.

New Jersey beat Toronto on Wednesday behind 26 points from Gerald Green, who initially signed a 10-day contract with the Nets but has been playing like someone who plans to stay awhile.

Orlando lost 122-111 to San Antonio on Wednesday despite 25 points from Jameer Nelson.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Raptors Final Score: New Jersey Wins 98-84

The New Jersey Nets took a break from the Dwight Howard drama long enough to beat the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night. The 98-84 win was the first in two games for the Nets, who have become a regular presence in the Howard saga.

New Jersey out-shot and out-rebounded the Raptors, and seemed no worse for wear without Deron Williams in uniform. Gerald Green led the team with 26 points. He was one of five players in double figures. Kris Humphries had a double-double with 16 points and 21 rebounds.

James Johnson and Jerryd Bayless led the Raptors with 16 points each.

The Nets will see Howard on Friday, when they visit Orlando. At 15-29 overall, the playoffs seem like a long-shot, but they are just four games behind the eighth spot.

For more Nets coverage, check out Nets Daily. You can follow all of the Dwight Howard action and other NBA trade news and rumors at SB Nation's NBA hub.

Nets Vs. Raptors: Deron Williams Still Out For New Jersey

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to put the brakes on a two-game slide when they welcome the Toronto Raptors to the Prudential Center Wednesday night. The Raptors are one game ahead of the Nets in the loss column and are vying for that eighth playoff spot.

Nets head coach Avery Johnson will once again try to piece things together on offense without star Deron Williams. The point guard is hampered by a calf strain and will miss his third straight game. Johnson will likely continue to lean on Kris Humphries, who put up a career-high 31 points in a 105-99 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night.

Look for athletic small forward Gerald Green's role to expand as well. In addition to his amazing dunk against the Houston Rockets, Green has shown the ability to score anywhere on the court, something the Nets haven't had from the wing in quite some time.

The Raptors have won five of the last 10, including a 96-88 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers Tuesday night. Andrea Bargnani is back for Toronto after missing 20 games, but may be without Jose Calderon, who is day-to-day with an ankle injury.

You can watch the game locally on YES or hear it on WFAN with tip schedule for 7:30 p.m.

The next big day on the Nets schedule is the trade deadline Thursday. All eyes will be on Dwight Howard and then no matter what happens they will stay on the Orlando Magic as they take on the Nets Friday night.

Bucks 105, Nets 99: New Jersey Loses 2nd Straight Without Deron Williams

The New Jersey Nets lost their second straight game without Deron Williams, who sat out again with a strained calf. New Jersey fell 105-99 to the Milwaukee Bucks without their top playmaker, putting them another game back from a team they need to catch if they hope to make the playoffs this season.

The Bucks won their third straight game to maintain position with the New York Knicks for the final Eastern Conference slot in the NBA Playoffs. Brandon Jennings had 34 points, seven rebounds, seven assists and two blocks to lead the way. Milwaukee trailed by as many as 11 points late in third quarter, but scored nine straight in a 1:39 span to take a 74-72 deficit heading into the fourth quarter.

Milwaukee took the lead on a Jennings 3-pointer with just under 11 minutes to play and never gave it back. Kris Humphries had a career-high 31 points and 18 rebounds, but couldn't alleviate a 4-for-17 team performance from beyond the 3-point arc. Jordan Farmar added 17 points and seven assists in the loss.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Nets Vs. Bucks: Deron Williams Out Again For New Jersey

The New Jersey Nets continue their improbable search for a playoff spot against one of the teams they are chasing, the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night at the Prudential Center. The Nets will once again be without Deron Williams, who is hampered by a strained calf.

Even without their leader, the Nets nearly took out the Houston Rockets on Saturday. Playing on his second 10-day contract, Gerald Green led New Jersey with 26 points along with a dunk of the year candidate. He did, however, also inadvertently tip the go-ahead basket for the Rockets in the 112-106 loss. MarShon Brooks added 23 points and seven assists, while Jordan Farmar had 18.

Milwaukee is fighting with the New York Knicks and the Cleveland Cavaliers for the final playoff spot and have won three of four, including their last two. On Sunday night they took out the Toronto Raptors,105-99. Ersan Ilyasova had a monster 31 point, 12 rebound performance, something the Nets have seen before. The forward dropped 29 on New Jersey back on Feb. 19.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets will wrap up their short three-game homestand Wednesday against the Raptors, another team with dwindling hopes of grabbing a spot in the playoffs.

Rockets 112, Nets 106: Short-handed Nets Fall To Houston

Playing without stars Deron Williams (calf) and Brook Lopez (ankle) the New Jersey Nets gave the Houston Rockets a run for their money Saturday night at the Prudential Center in East Rutherford, N.J. In the end, however, the Nets fell short, losing to Houston, 112-106, in NBA action.

A Shelden Williams layup gave New Jersey a 106-105 lead with 2:07 to play, but the Nets never scored again. New Jersey is 14-28 on the season, while Houston is 22-19.

"Our guys really played hard," said Nets coach Avery Johnson. "To get six guys in double figures and shoot 53 percent from the field, that’s good. It’s just that our defense wasn’t very good."

New Jersey got a career-high 26 points from Gerald Green and 23 from rookie Marshon Brooks in the loss. Green, on his second 10-day contract, had a spectacular windmill dunk off an alley-oop to highlight his night.

(via NBA)

The Nets are back in action Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks.

— See NetsDaily for more discussion and analysis of the Nets.

New Jersey Nets Take On Houston Rockets Without Deron Williams

The New Jersey Nets will look to win three in a row for the first time this season when they welcome the Houston Rockets to the Prudential Center Saturday night. In order to grab that winning streak, New Jersey will have to do it without Deron Williams.

The point guard will sit out with a calf strain he aggravated Friday night against the Charlotte Bobcats. Without Williams, the Nets were still able to rally past the lowly Bobcats picking up their second victory over them in the last week, 83-74. Kris Humphries helped pick up the slack with 20 points and 15 rebounds while Anthony Morrow poured in all 17 of his points in the fourth quarter.

Houston comes to town riding a season-worst five game losing streak, but with two days off they are well rested. The Rockets lost 116-98 to the Toronto Raptors Wednesday and were led by rookie Chandler Parson's 19 points and point guard Kyle Lowry continued his impressive season with 16 points.

New Jersey isn't likely to see much of former Net Terrence Williams. The reserve forward played 11 minutes against the Raptors, but have plenty of "DNP-CD"s on his resume this season thanks to the poor work ethic he showed off during his time in New Jersey.

If the Nets can overcome the loss of Williams -- not to mention the latest Brook Lopez injury -- they can continue an improbable push for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference. Entering action Saturday, New Jersey finds themselves just five games out in the loss column.

You can watch the game locally on YES or hear it on Bloomberg 1130 with tip scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

After a day off, the Nets return to action Monday night against the Milwaukee Bucks at The Rock.

Nets-Bobcats Final Score: New Jersey Defeats Charlotte, 83-74

The New Jersey Nets defeated the Charlotte Bobcats on Friday night by a score of 83-74 on the road in Time Warner Cable Arena. The Nets have now won two games in a row and now have a 13-27 record, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and in last place in the Atlantic Division. The Bobcats are much worse off, though. They have now lost seven of their last eight games and are in last place in the conference with a 5-33 record.

The Nets were led by a 20-point performance from Kris Humphries, while Anthony Morrow came off the bench to chip in 17 and fellow bench player Jordan Farmar added 11. The Bobcats were led by Corey Maggette, who scored 19 points against the Nets on Friday night. Bismack Biyombo added 11 and Eduardo Najera came off the bench to add nine points.

The Nets head back home on Saturday to face the Houston Rockets at 8 p.m. (ET) and the Bobcats go on the road to Oklahoma City to play the Thunder at 8 p.m. on the same day.

For more on the Nets, head to Nets Daily, and for more on the Bobcats, visit Rufus On Fire. To follow along with the Nets' schedule as the season progresses, follow SB Nation New York's StoryStream.

Nets Back In Charlotte To Face The Bobcats

(Sports Network) - The New Jersey Nets try to make it two straight wins this evening at Time Warner Cable Arena when they play the Charlotte Bobcats for the second time a week.

Following an ugly loss to Miami on Tuesday, the Nets rebounded nicely on Wednesday, as Jordan Farmar's three-pointer with less than a second remaining lifted New Jersey to a thrilling 101-100 win over the Los Angeles Clippers.

"I would have been hurt if it went out," Farmar said. "I just wanted to make the shot, it was such a close game."

Nets Vs. Clippers Final Score: Jordan Farmar Last-Second Shot Wins It, 101-100

The New Jersey Nets pulled out a win on Wednesday night over the Los Angeles Clippers in a strange finale where both teams traded the lead in the game's final seconds. The Nets won by a final score of 101-100 on a buzzer beating 3-point shot from Jordan Farmar.

Last-second game-winners are something of a norm in March, but usually on the NCAA side of things, and with the Big East tournament happening just across the river, there was little oxygen for the last place Nets. Fans who missed this game, missed a nailbiter.

Deron Williams got Farmar the ball as the clock expired, just in time for Farmar to sink a 28-foot shot to win the game.

The Nets led by as much as 18 points, but the Clippers fought their way back into the game with 29 points in the fourth quarter. Blake Griffin had 28 points and 17 rebounds. Chris Paul had 22 points and 10 assists.

Deron Williams led the Nets with 21 points and 10 assists. Kris Humphries and Shelden Williams had 11 and 10 rebounds, respectively.

The Nets travel to Charlotte on Friday.

For more coverage of the Nets, visit our blog NetsDaily.

Nets Vs. Clippers: New Jersey Looks To End Home Losing Streak

The New Jersey Nets (12-27) host the Los Angeles Clippers (22-14) on Wednesday night at the Prudential Center at 8 p.m.

The Nets enter the game having lost their last seven home contests. New Jersey is only 3-13 overall at the Prudential Center this season. The Clippers are 2-2 on their current road trip and are coming off a loss to Minnesota on Monday night. The Clippers have also lost five of their last eight games overall. L.A. took the first meeting between the teams, 101-91, when New Jersey traveled out west on Jan. 16.

The Nets will have a tough time dealing with Clippers forward Blake Griffin as Brook Lopez (ankle) and Mehmet Okur (back) are both out tonight. Lopez recently joined Okur on the injury list with an ankle sprain. New Jersey could need an outstanding individual performance in order to get a victory tonight. The Nets are the only NBA team to have three different players put up 38+ points in any game this season (Anthony Morrow, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez).

Game Info:

Game Time: 8 p.m.

Venue: Prudential Center, Newark, NJ

TV: YES

Radio: WFAN 660

For more coverage of the Nets, visit our blog NetsDaily.

Heat 108, Nets 78: New Jersey No Match For Miami

The New Jersey Nets headed south to visit the Miami Heat Tuesday night, but they were never able to keep it close in a 108-78 loss.

New Jersey (12-27) shot just 37.3 percent from the floor and allowed Miami (29-9) to make 58.4 percent of their field goal attempts one game after losing center Brook Lopez for three weeks due to a sprained right ankle. Dwayne Wade also tweaked his right ankle late in the first half Tuesday night, though he is not expected to miss any games. As a precaution, Wade sat out the second half. He finished with 13 points. LeBron James led all scorers with 21 points, while Chris Bosh added 20 in his first game back with the Heat after missing their last three games following the death of his grandfather.

For the Nets, Deron Williams led the way with 16 points and four assists, while MarShon Brooks added 12 points and Johan Petro scored 11.

New Jersey returns home Wednesday night, but their schedule doesn't get any easier as the Los Angeles Clippers (22-14) come to town.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

New Jersey Nets Finish Road Trip In South Beach Vs. Miami Heat

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to complete just their second winning road trip of the season when they take on the Miami Heat Tuesday night at American Airlines Arena. They'll have to do it with a roster once again depleted by injuries while the Heat will be at full strength.

After getting center Brook Lopez back for five games, the Nets lost him to an ankle injury suffered early in Sunday's victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. They will also still be without Mehmet Okur, leaving Johan Petro as the only healthy center on the roster.

The Nets will once again need to lean on point guard Deron Williams on offense. The All Star poured in a career-high 57 points against the Bobcats -- a franchise record -- a performance that might need to be repeated if New Jersey is going to take out the mighty Miami Heat.

Williams hit on 16-of-29 shots and an amazing 21-of-21 from the charity stripe. The only other Nets players to finish in double figures were Kris Humphries (11) and Shelden Williams (10).

Chris Bosh returns for the Heat after missing three games following the death of his grandmother. Miami lost two in a row while Bosh was away and will be looking to play more like they did during their recent nine-game winning streak.

The Heat continue to be led by MVP candidate LeBron James, who is averaging an eye-popping 27.8 points, 8.4 rebounds and 6.8 assists. His line against New Jersey in a Jan. 7 101-90 victory was equally impressive: 32 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.

New Jersey has dropped eight straight against the defending Eastern Conference champions.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on AM 970 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Next up, the Nets return home on Wednesday to take on the Los Angeles Clippers at the Prudential Center.

VIDEO: Deron Williams Sets Franchise Record With 57 Points Against Bobcats

Deron Williams went off against the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday night, putting up a franchise and career high 57 points in a 104-101 win. He went 16-for-29 shooting from the floor and 21-for-21 from the free throw line, scoring more points than any NBA player so far this season. It was a game for the ages, one that you can relive here. Well, partially:

The previous New Jersey Nets record was 52 points, held by both Mike Newlin and Ray Williams. Deron Williams also had seven assists, six rebounds, a steal and a block (and five turnovers) to help out the cause. Whatever happens after the season, he will have a legacy in New Jersey for some time to come.

For more on the record-setting night, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. Be sure to stay tuned to SB Nation New York and our Nets team page for more news and analysis.

Deron Williams Scores Franchise Record 57 Points In Win Over Charlotte Bobcats

After the New Jersey Nets fell to the Boston Celtics on Friday, there was a lot of chatter about point guard Deron Williams needing to shoot the ball more in Avery Johnson's offense. That's exactly what happened Sunday night as Williams exploded for a franchise record 57 points to lead the Nets to a 104-101 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

In addition to a team record, Williams' effort was also the best of his career and the most any player has scored in a single game this season. The All Star did more than just score. Williams also handed out seven assists and pulled down six rebounds.

The Nets previous franchise record for points in a game was 52, held by both Mike Newlin and Ray Williams. The only other New Jersey players to score in double digits against Charlotte were Kris Humphries with 11 and Shelden Williams off the bench with 10.

This game wasn't all about Williams though. New Jersey got a scare when center Brook Lopez went down with an ankle injury early in the second half and didn't return to the game. The team officially called it a rolled ankle, but there has to be a concern about a setback with his broken foot that cost him most of the season.

Johnson told reporters after the game Lopez had X-rays and when asked if they were negative, only said "he's going to get re-evaluated tomorrow". The coach said he would talk with GM Billy King about the next step, either sending Lopez back to New Jersey or taking him on the trip to Miami.

After the game, Williams said he was not only excited about setting the record for points, but just to get another win.

"Coach told us we would have off tomorrow if we won, so I wanted to try to win. I have an 11:39 tee time," Williams said on the court after the game.

The day off for New Jersey will keep the team fresh for Tuesday night's game against LeBron James and the Miami Heat in South Beach.

New Jersey Nets Take On Lowly Charlotte Bobcats

The New Jersey Nets haven't entered many games as the heavy favorites, but that's exactly what they are facing Sunday night against the Charlotte Bobcats at the Time Warner Cable Arena. The Nets struggled for most of the season, but have played better basketball of late winning three of their last six and have gotten center Brook Lopez back from injury while the Bobcats are a league-worst 4-30, including a terrible 2-12 at home.

One of the major reasons for the Nets turnaround is their new found health. Head coach Avery Johnson has rarely had more than nine or 10 players available to him, but against the Bobcats will have 12, including center Brook Lopez in his fifth game back from a broken foot and backup point guard Jordan Farmar who has missed four straight.

Last time out New Jersey fell short against the Boston Celtics on the road, 107-94. Lopez led the Nets with 28 points while rookie MarShon Brooks, Anthony Morrow and newcomer Gerald Green all added 11. Green has been particularly impressive in his two games with New Jersey after a promotion from the D-League.

Charlotte has lost seven straight at home and four overall, including a 102-72 beatdown by the San Antonio Spurs on Friday night. Corey Maggette and Boris Diaw both scored 14 for the owner of the league's worst offense.

In their first meeting on Jan. 22, a shorthanded Nets squad took out the Bobcats, 97-87.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

After another day off, the Nets will wrap up their five-game road trip against the Miami Heat on Tuesday night.

Nets Vs. Celtics: New Jersey Blown Out By Boston Celtics, 107-94

Despite 28 points from Brook Lopez, the New Jersey Nets fell behind early and never came close in a 107-94 loss to the Boston Celtics Friday night at the TD Garden.

Boston took an 18-point lead in the half -- behind four starters scoring in double-figures -- and never looked back. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 27 points, while Rajon Rondo contributed 14 points, 13 assists and five steals.

The Nets' starting backcourt of Deron Williams and MarShon Brooks, meanwhile, turned the ball over nine times. Williams took just nine field goals, scoring 12 points. Gerald Green, however, made some noise off the bench with 11 points against his former team and two ferocious dunks.

For more on the Nets, head over to NetsDaily.

Nets Road Trip Continues In Boston Vs. Celtics

The New Jersey Nets are nearly back to full strength and playing some of their best basketball of the season as they continue a four-game road trip Friday night against the Boston Celtics. Avery Johnson's crew has won three of their last five, while the Celtics have lost seven of 10 and are attracting plenty of negative attention.

The source of that attention? Word that everyone from Rajon Rondo to Keven Garnett to Paul Pierce can be had in a trade while Boston struggles to stay in the playoff race. That's right, the Nets get to take on a team that has to answer more trade questions than they do.

Even though the Dwight Howard chatter has never gone away, the Nets haven't been hurt by it lately. Though it's a lot easier to push that sort of stuff to the side when you get your starting center back, something New Jersey did just before the All Star break. Brook Lopez hit the floor for the first time all season on Feb. 19 and quickly found his way as he dropped 38 points on the defending champion Dallas Mavericks.

Deron Williams and rookie MarShon Brooks should be the main beneficiaries from Lopez's return. The two guards have had to carry the load offensively and try to fight through the double (and triple) teams that come along with that burden. Now they will both see more open looks on the perimeter as teams start to putting the focus back on Lopez.

New Jersey should be well rested considering they have only played once in the second half and have had two days off since that game. They will also get another day of rest Saturday before returning to action Sunday.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on Bloomberg 1130.

Next up for the Nets is a showdown with the lowly Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday.

Brook Lopez Powers Nets Past Mavs, 93-92

Dallas, TX (Sports Network) - Brook Lopez scored a season-high 38 points and made the eventual game-winning free throw on Tuesday, leading the Nets to a 93-92 victory over the Mavericks.

Jason Kidd's three-pointer gave Dallas a 92-91 lead with 48 seconds left, but Lopez, in just his third game back from a broken foot, drew a foul and made the tying and go-ahead free throws with 42 seconds to play.

New Jersey Nets Kick Off Second Half In Dallas

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to put their 10-25 record behind them and focus on getting back into the playoff hunt when they open the second half of the NBA season on the road against the Dallas Mavericks on Tuesday night.

For the first time all season, Avery Johnson's crew is starting to have health on their side. Center Brook Lopez is back and close to full strength, looking at upwards of 30 minutes against the defending champions. The Nets will also have the services of SF Gerald Green, fresh off a call-up from the D-League.

Also a rarity for New Jersey, most of the talk around the team leading up to the game isn't focused squarely on a trade for Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard. Not that the big man has been forgotten by the media, but instead the spotlight was on PG Deron Williams and the potential of him choosing to play in Dallas next season. Williams spoke glowingly about the American Airlines Center and the Mavericks fans as a whole.

The Nets get to see plenty of former players suited up for the Mavs on Tuesday. Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Yi Jianlian and Brandan Wright will all be in uniform for Dallas.

Johnson should be able to let loose with his starters thanks to the All Star break and two more days off after the showdown in Big D.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip schedule for 8:30 p.m.

Up next for New Jersey is a trip up to Boston to take on the Celtics on Friday night.

Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic Crush New Jersey Nets, 108-91

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Dwight Howard had 20 points and 17 rebounds, but the Orlando Magic may have made their biggest run of the game with him on the bench Wednesday night in a 108-91 win over the New Jersey Nets.

Orlando beat New Jersey for the ninth straight time mostly on the strength of a 24-12 run while Howard sat on the bench after getting in early foul trouble.

Glen Davis scored 12 of his 16 points during the surge, which gave the Magic a 20-point lead in the second quarter. Ryan Anderson had 14 points and nine rebounds and Orlando moved to 10-3 in February after ending January on a four- game losing streak.

New Jersey Nets Finish First Half Against Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic

The New Jersey Nets wrap up a disappointing first half Wednesday night by trying to impress Dwight Howard as they take on his Orlando Magic at The Prudential Center in Newark.

In addition to heading into the All-Star break with back-to-back wins against likely playoff teams, the Nets will also try to show Howard what could be waiting for him next season when the team moves to Brooklyn. New Jersey will put on a special pre-game presentation that will focus on Brooklyn and feature a fireworks and laser show.

Once the dog and pony show is over, the Nets will try to beat a tough Magic (21-12) team that has won nine of their last 12, including a 93-90 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday. Besides stopping Howard -- the man they want to play for them as soon as next week -- the Nets will also have to try and contain former Net Ryan Anderson. The forward is having a career year averaging 16.3 points and 7.3 rebounds while shooting 44 percent from beyond the arc.

Brook Lopez will play his second game for the Nets since returning from a broken foot, but he will have to do without any help from starting forward Kris Humphries. The double-double machine will sit out Wednesday night with a left calf strain. New Jersey could also be without backup PG Sundiata Gaines, who is a game time decision.

The Nets are already without PG Jordan Farmar, leaving Deron Williams as the only healthy option to run the offense. Since the All-Star isn't going to play 48 minutes, if Gaines is unable to play it could leave some point guard duties to rookie MarShon Brooks.

New Jersey continues to be without the services of Mehmet Okur, Shawne Williams and Damion James.

Knowing a much needed five days off are coming after the game and riding the high of defeating the New York Knicks and Chicago Bulls on the road over the weekend, Avery Johnson's crew could just have enough in the tank to sneak by Howard and the Magic.

You can see the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets will scatter after the game while the NBA celebrates All-Star weekend. Deron Williams will play in the game, while Brooks has been selected to play in the Rising Stars game and Anthony Morrow will attempt to win the three-point contest. New Jersey will return to action Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Nets Vs. Knicks Final Score: Deron Williams Outshines Jeremy Lin In 100-92 Nets Win

Deron Williams scored 38 points before fouling out with 3:06 left in the fourth quarter to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 100-92 win over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden on Monday night. Jeremy Lin was relatively subdued by Williams and the Nets defense, needing 18 field goals attempts to get to 21 points on the night. Unfortunately for New York, Lin was unable to prove that he could go left with much consistency, nor that he could win at the side of Carmelo Anthony.

Melo was back on the court after spending seven games sidelined with a groin injury. He didn't appear limited, playing 37 minutes. He had just 11 points in his re-debut, going 4-for-11 from the field. The hope is that Anthony still needs time to shake off the rust and build chemistry with his new point guard. Until then, questions will persist whether the two players can coexist.

Of course, Williams played a major role in the Nets win too. He hit a career high eight 3-pointers for the game, and scored 18 points in the third quarter to help put New Jersey up 82-64 heading into the final stanza. New York mounted a miniature comeback after Williams fouled out. Down 13, they drew to within six points with 12 seconds left in the game. They ran out of clock, however, giving the Nets their second win in three games.

Kris Humphries was aggressive in the lane on both ends throughout the game, hauling in 14 rebounds to go with his 14 points. MarShon Brooks also added 18 points. For the Knicks, Landry Fields had a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. Amare Stoudemire pitched in 17 points, as well.

For more Knicks coverage, check out the SB Nation blog Posting And Toasting. For more on the Nets, head over to NetsDaily. For more on both teams, stay tuned to SB Nation New York.

Nets Return To The Scene Of Linsanity's Birth

The New Jersey Nets wrap up three games in three days when they take on the New York Knicks Monday night at Madison Square Garden. The last time these teams met the sports world was introduced to Jeremy Lin and the mania now known as "Linsanity".

If the Nets had been able to handle Lin back on Feb. 4, there would be a much different team waiting for Avery Johnson's crew. Not only is Lin now the starting point guard and talk of the town, but both Amar'e Stoundemire and Carmelo Anthony are back in the lineup together.

Stoudemire returned on Tuesday and has averaged over 17 points a game, while Anthony is seeing his first action since Feb. 6, the second game of "Linsanity".

New Jersey has gone in the totally opposite direction since the birth of "Linsanity", losing eight of nine, including a 92-85 setback to the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. While the Nets got center Brook Lopez back against the Bucks, he will sit out Monday before returning Wednesday vs. the Orlando Magic as the Nets ease him into the rotation after a broken foot kept him on the sidelines all season.

Deron Williams continued his strong play against the Bucks, with 26 points and six assists, while Anthony Morrow finished with 17. Lopez logged just 22 minutes and put up nine points and pulled down two rebounds.

You can see the game locally on YES or MSG and listen on WFAN 660 or ESPN 1050 with tip schedule for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets will get a much needed day off Tuesday before wrapping up the first half at The Rock against the Magic.

Bucks 92, Nets 85: Brook Lopez Returns, Milwaukee's Ersan Ilyasova Stars

The New Jersey Nets finally got their first glimpse of center Brook Lopez this season after he missed the first 32 games with a broken foot. However, the return of Lopez wasn't enough to help New Jersey build on its impressive win over the Chicago Bulls Saturday, instead coming up flat in a 92-85 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks Sunday night.

On the night Lopez' long-awaited return, it was a Bucks big man that was the star. Ersan Ilyasova, averaging 9.4 points and 7.9 rebounds this season, scorched the Nets' frontcourt for 29 points and 24 rebounds, including 13 on the offensive glass.

The Bucks did their best to keep the Nets in the game, but every time the game got close Milwaukee was able to push New Jersey away with a big three. The Nets were also their own worst enemies, with a DeShawn Stevenson flagrant foul and Kris Humphries technical giving the Bucks enough room in the fourth quarter to hold on.

Deron Williams once again led New Jersey with 26 points and six assists, while Anthony Morrow finished with 17. After two straight 20 point efforts, Humphries had just 13 points. In his return, Lopez finished with nine points and two rebounds in 22 minutes.

There won't be much time for the Nets to stew over this one, with their third game in three days waiting for them Monday night at Madison Square Garden against the New York Knicks.

Brook Lopez Returns For Nets Vs. Bucks

The New Jersey Nets will welcome center Brook Lopez back on Sunday night when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at The Prudential Center. Lopez will start for New Jersey after missing all season due to a broken foot he suffered in the Nets final preseason game.

Knowing Lopez would return, the Nets played solid basketball on Saturday in stunning the Chicago Bulls, 97-85. Deron Williams led New Jersey with 29 points and eight assists, while Kris Humphries turned in a double-double of 24 points and 19 rebounds.

As New Jersey starts to get healthy for the first time all season, the Bucks bring their own injury issues with them into The Rock. Milwaukee will be without center Andrew Bogut as well as forward Drew Gooden. That means Ersan Ilyasova and seldom-used Jon Leuer will get the majority of time in the low post for the Bucks.

The lack of any depth up front for Milwaukee presents the best situation for Lopez to return from his 32-game layoff. He averaged 20.4 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.

The Nets were swept by the Bucks last season and have lost their last eight against Milwaukee.

You can watch the game locally on YES or listen on Bloomberg 1130 with tip scheduled for 7:00 p.m.

New Jersey will complete their second back-to-back-to-back of the season Monday against the New York Knicks.

Nets End Losing Streak, Hand Bulls Just Second Home Loss, 97-85

The New Jersey Nets once again had to play without starting center Brook Lopez on Saturday afternoon in Chicago against the Bulls, but knowing he was on his way back seems to have helped them focus. Avery Johnson's crew opened the game with a 24-5 run and never looked back on their way to a 97-82 victory.

"We gave the Bulls kind of a dose of what teams have been giving us all year," the Nets head coach said about the hot start.

Even though the Bulls played without reigning MVP Derrick Rose, Chicago had got 3-1 over their last four games while their point guard sat out with a back problem and had only lost once at home all season.

For the second straight game, New Jersey got out of the gate quickly and this time they didn't give it all back. The Bulls made several runs in the second and third quarters, but the Nets were able to answer each time, something they have had problems with all season.

Deron Williams led all scorers with 29 points and also handed out eight assists to help the Nets halt an eight-game losing streak. Kris Humphries was a beast all game, pouring in 24 and hauling down 18 rebounds. Along with his 24 point against the Indiana Pacers Thursday, this was the first time in his career Humphries scored 20 points in back-to-back games.

Every Nets starter played at least 33 minutes with Humphries, Deron Williams and MarShon Brooks logging 45, 42 and 42 minutes, respectively. Johnson acknowledged there weren't many other options despite the Nets playing three games in three days.

"I didn't have a choice. Our bench was struggling," Johnson said. "At the beginning of the second quarter, I was trying to give Humphries and Deron a blow, but we had to get them back in because the look in their eyes, they really looked like they wanted to win this game."

And win they did, for just the second time this month. Now New Jersey will search for just their second back-to-back wins of the year when they take on the Milwaukee Bucks at The Prudential Center Sunday night. The Nets will get their first look at Lopez, out all season with a broken bone in his foot. The center will start Sunday, sit out against the New York Knicks on Monday and then play in the first-half finale Wednesday in Orlando.

Nets Look To Halt Losing Streak In The Windy City

The New Jersey Nets will kick off their second back-to-back-to-back of the season Saturday afternoon when they take on the Chicago Bulls in the Windy City. Avery Johnson's crew is more worried about finally picking up a win than getting worn down by playing three games in three days.

The Nets have dropped nine in a row, including a 93-88 loss to the Indiana Pacers Thursday night. Deron Williams led New Jersey once again with 29 points, six rebounds and four assists, but also had six turnovers. Kris Humphries put in a solid effort with 24 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks.

After missing all season with a broken bone in his foot, center Brook Lopez finally could return to the lineup for New Jersey. He was listed as "questionable" by the Nets on Friday, giving him a 50-50 chance of seeing his first action of the year. Lopez would give Johnson a much-needed scoring option in the post.

The Bulls have had their own injury problems, but haven't missed a beat. Derrick Rose has been out the last four games with Chicago taking three of those, the latest a big 89-80 victory over the Boston Celtics Thursday night.

Rose took part in practice on Friday, but his status for Saturday's showdown with the Nets is still up in the air.

You can see the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 4 p.m.

The Nets return home for the second of their three games in three days against the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.

Pacers Vs. Nets Final Score: Indiana Beats New Jersey, 93-88

Indiana Pacers forward Danny Granger entered Thursday's game battling a sprained left ankle, but that didn't stop him from dropping a game-best 32 points and helping his team down the New Jersey Nets 93-88 Thursday night at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Nets (8-23) lost their 10th straight game to the Pacers (18-12), who also snapped a five-game losing streak.

The Nets, who had the game tied at 69-69 with 8:15 left in the game, were led by 29 points from point guard Deron Williams. Center Kris Humphries tallied 24 points and 10 rebounds, but New Jersey couldn't over come its 19 turnovers and poor shooting from behind the 3-point arc (4-for-17, 23.5 percent).

Indiana's Paul George gave the Pacers the lead for good when he hit a jumper that sparked a 9-2 run.

-- For more on the Nets, check out SB Nation's blog NetsDaily, and for more on the Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows. For all of the latest NBA coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA home.

Nets Vs. Pacers Preview: Nets Seek To Snap Losing Streak

The New Jersey Nets and Indiana Pacers will square off in Indianapolis on Thursday night, and one team will finally snap its ugly losing streak. The Nets slump has reached seven games, including a Wednesday night loss to Memphis. Indiana has lost five straight, most recently a Tuesday night defeat at home versus Miami.

The lone bright spot for New Jersey during the streak has been the play of point guard Deron Williams, who has averaged 22.7 points and 8.6 assist per game during the stretch of teams woes. After a slow start to the lockout shortened season, Williams has upped his season averages to 21.1 points and 8.5 assists per game.

The Pacers are led by forward Danny Granger and center Roy Hibbert, who was recently named an All Star for the first time in his career. Hibbert is shooting 49.5 percent from the field and averaging a career-best 13.1 points and 9.4 rebounds per game this season.

New Jersey enters Thursday's action 8-22, last in the Atlantic Division. Indiana (17-12) trails Chicago by six games in the Central Division.

-- For more on the Nets, check out SB Nation's blog NetsDaily, and for more on the Pacers, head over to Indy Cornrows. For all of the latest NBA coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA home.

Grizzlies 105, Nets 100: Turnovers Push Losing Streak To Seven

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Marreese Speights had a career-high 18 rebounds to go with 20 points and the Memphis Grizzlies utilized a seven-point run in the game's final minutes to defeat the New Jersey Nets, 105-100, at Prudential Center.

Rudy Gay added 25 points, Tony Allen had 21 and Mike Conley posted a double- double with 16 points and 10 assists for the Grizzlies, who won games on back- to-back nights, both on the road.

New Jersey Nets vs. Memphis Grizzlies: Nets Try To Halt Six-Game Slide

While their rivals across the river are the darlings of the NBA thanks to "Linsanity", the New Jersey Nets are just trying to return to relevance with a win Wednesday night against the Memphis Grizzlies. It was just two and a half weeks ago they had won four of six and were looking like a team poised to make a playoff run as they got more players healthy.

Now riding a six game losing streak, instead of getting healthier they have continued to send players to the sidelines with various injuries. The latest member of the walking wounded is Shawne Williams, who will sit Wednesday night with a shoulder sprain. He will be replaced by DeShawn Stevenson, fresh off his own eight game hiatus.

New Jersey will have another set of fresh legs in D-League call-up Andre Emmett. Considering how thin the team is on the wing, he could see minutes immediately.

Head coach Avery Johnson is hoping a rare three days off will help his team forget two dreadful performances, the last a 103-89 plastering by the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night. Deron Williams led the Nets with 27 points, while Kris Humphries had 15 and Anthony Morrow added 11 as the only starters in double figures.

The Grizzlies come to town winners of three out of three, including a 93-83 victory over the Houston Rockets. Mike Conley had a team-high 21 points and four assists, continuing his impressive 2011-12 campaign. Rudy Gay dropped 20 against Houston and it will be up to Stevenson to try and prevent the swigman from repeating those numbers.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

Wednesday's game is the first of six in eight days leading up to the All Star Break. Next up is a trip to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Thursday night.

Nets Vs. Spurs Final Score Update: Spurs Stomp Nets, 103-89

The New Jersey Nets home struggles continue in the 2011-2012 season, as they dropped their 10th game in 13 tries in their final season at the Prudential Center before their move to the soon-to-be completed Barclay's center in Brooklyn, losing to the San Antonio Spurs 103-89 on Saturday night.

Deron Williams, who was recently named a reserve member of the Eastern Conference All Star team, led New Jersey with 27 points and eight assists, but struggled from the field in hitting just nine of his 23 shots. Kris Humphries added 15 points and led New Jersey with eight rebounds.

San Antonio benefited from the return of Manu Ginobili, who had been out with a broken hand, and put in eight points in 16 minutes off the bench. The Spurs also extended their season-best winning streak to seven games.

The Nets will return to action on Wednesday, when they host the Memphis Grizzlies.

For more updates on the Nets, check out Nets Daily, and for all your latest Spurs news, visit Pounding the Rock.

Red Hot Spurs Visit New Jersey To Take On Ice Cold Nets

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to rebound from one of their most embarrassing losses of the season, a 109-92 beatdown by the Detroit Pistons on Friday, and halt a five-game losing streak when they welcome the San Antonio Spurs to The Prudential Center Saturday night.

On their annual "rodeo road trip" -- forced to stay away from home for three weeks -- the Spurs are red hot, winners of six straight, including the first two games on their epic trip. They also come in rested, having last played Wednesday night against the Philadelphia 76ers. San Antonio will get guard Manu Ginobili back in the lineup after he missed more than a month.

After getting rookie MarShon Brooks back in the lineup against the Pistons, the Nets will still be short-handed on Saturday. Brook Lopez, Damion James, Mehmet Okur and DeShawn Stevenson will all still be out. Brooks scored seven points in just 17 minutes of action vs. Detroit.

The Nets have dropped 17 of 18 games to the Spurs and will need to stop one of the hottest teams in the league if they are going to reverse that trend.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 8:00 p.m.

New Jersey will get a much needed three days off before returning to action Wednesday night at The Rock against the Memphis Grizzlies.

Nets Vs. Pistons: New Jersey Falls To Detroit, 92-109

The New Jersey Nets lost their fifth game in a row on Friday night when they lost to the Detroit Pistons by a score of 109-92 on the road in The Palace Of Auburn Hills. The Nets now have an 8-20 record, which puts them in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and in last place in the Atlantic Division. The Pistons are now also 8-20, which puts them in 12th place in the conference and in last place in the Central Division.

The Nets' starting lineup was led by Deron Williams and Jordan Farmar, who both scored 14 points. Johan Petro came off the bench to score 16 points and Sundiata Gaines also came off the bench and added 13 points. The Pistons' starters were led by Rodney Stuckey, who scored 19 points against the Nets. Greg Monroe added 18 and Brandon Knight scored 13. The whole team was led by Jonas Jerebko, who came off the bench and scored 20 points. Ben Gordon also came off the bench and added 14 points.

The Nets return home for a Saturday night game against the San Antonio Spurs in which they will try to avoid losing six games in a row. The game starts at 8 p.m. (ET). The Pistons stay at home and face the Washington Wizards on Sunday at 6 p.m. (ET) where they will attempt to win their fifth game in a row.

For more updates on the Nets, check out Nets Daily, and for the Pistons go to Detroit Bad Boys.

Nets Vs. Pistons: New Jersey Looks To Strike Back On Star Wars Night

The New Jersey Nets and Detroit Pistons meet for the second time in three nights Friday on "Star Wars" night at The Palace of Auburn Hills. The Pistons took the last meeting 99-92, despite another ferocious late rally.

The trend of losing players continued for the Nets with guard Keith Bogans leaving Wednesday's game with a likely season-ending broken ankle. He will join Brook Lopez, Damion James, Mehmet Okur and DeShawn Stevenson on the sidelines. Rookie MarShon Brooks will be a game-time decision as he continues to recover from a broken toe.

Detroit had injury problems equal to New Jersey, but should only be without Charlie Villanueva and Will Bynum Friday night. The Pistons will be shooting for their season-high fourth straight win.

All-Star Deron Williams led the Nets last time out with a game-high 34 points and seven assists while Jordan Farmar helped in the back court with 22 points off the bench. The only other New Jersey player to score in double figures was Shelden Williams (11).

Greg Monroe took advantage of the thin New Jersey front line, scoring 20 points on 10-of-16 shooting from the floor. Forward Jonas Jerebko was a nuisance with 16 points while Tayshaun Prince had 15.

With Shawne Williams -- hobbled by his own injury problems -- the only healthy small forward for the Nets, look for Prince and Jerebko again to be a problem for New Jersey.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets will return home after the game to take on the San Antonio Spurs on Saturday night at The Prudential Center.

Pistons 99, Nets 92: Deron Williams' 34 Points Not Enough For New Jersey

Deron Williams scored 17 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter Wednesday night, but the New Jersey Nets were unable to halt their losing streak.

Powered by a 20-point, 12-rebound night from Greg Monroe, the Detroit Pistons (7-20) handed the Nets (8-19) their fourth-straight loss in a 99-92 win at the Prudential Center. Williams and Kris Humphries (nine points and 16 rebounds) each played 41 minutes of the game, and the Nets were also aided by 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting by Jordan Farmar.

Detroit was buoyed by the return of Ben Gordon, who scored 14 points off the bench after missing the last 11 games with a shoulder injury.

The Nets were able to draw within one point of the lead after Williams converted a 4-point play to bring the score to 78-77 with 8:27 remaining. Detroit built a 6-0 run over the next two-and-a-half minutes before another Williams trey brought New Jersey to within three. Following a basket by Rodney Stuckey, Williams nailed another 3-pointer to put the Nets down just 86-83 with 5:18 to go.

That was the closest New Jersey came to the lead, as Williams missed his next two shots and Farmar was unable to sink a 3-pointer of his own.

Friday night, the Nets get another crack at the Pistons as they travel to Detroit to complete the home-and-home series.

Nets Vs. Pistons: Looking For Some Home Cooking

The New Jersey Nets will look to snap out of their latest slump with a home-and-home against the Detroit Pistons, the last team they defeated. The first game is Wednesday night at The Prudential Center with the Nets trying to shake off one of their most embarrassing losses of the season, a 108-87 drubbing by the Chicago Bulls.

Avery Johnson's crew has lost three in a row and five of six with the lone win coming a week ago in Newark against this Detroit squad.But while the Nets have struggled since they last met, the Pistons have pulled off back-to-back wins over the Milwaukee Bucks and New Orleans Hornets.

The Pistons beat the Hornets without the services of Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva and lost point guard Brandon Knight after just five minutes to a broken nose. Greg Monroe led Detroit with 24 points and 16 rebounds as he continues his impressive sophomore season.

The Nets will once again be short-handed, with Brook Lopez, MarShon Brooks, DeShawn Stevenson and Mehmet Okur all sidelined. They are expected to get Anthony Morrow back after the death of his grandmother.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets and Pistons will get together again Friday night in Detroit.

Nets Vs. Bulls Final Score: Derrick Rose Misses Second Half But Chicago Still Rolls

Derrick Rose had to sit out the second half due to lower back spasms, but it didn't matter. The Chicago Bulls never trailed, and were up by as many as 30 points before winning 108-87 on Monday night over the New Jersey Nets. The Nets fell to 8-18 on the season with the loss.

Rose managed just four points in his 11 minutes on the court, but Carlos Boozer picked up the slack, not to mention some hot shooting from behind the 3-point arc. Boozer picked up 25 points, six rebounds and five assists. Meanwhlie, Luol Deng, Ronnie Brewer, Kyle Korver and C.J. Watson combined to go 9-for-15 from distance.

Deron Williams led the Nets with 24 points, but also had three turnovers to go with his five assists. As a team New Jersey was just 40.5 percent from the field thanks to a 3-for-17 performance from 3-point range.

The Nets have now lost four of their last five, and sit tied for fourth with the Toronto Raptors at 10.5 games back from the Philadelphia 76ers in the Atlantic Division.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily. For more on the Bulls, check out Blog-A-Bull. Stay tuned to SB Nation New York for more news.

New Jersey Nets Vs. Chicago Bulls Preview

The struggling New Jersey Nets are 8-17 and have lost four of their last five games. The Nets figure to have their hands full Monday night at the Prudential Center (7:30 p.m. ET/YES) when the Central Division leading Chicago Bulls (20-6) roll into the Prudential Center.

MVP Derrick Rose is averaging 23.6 points and 8.2 assists per game for Chicago. Luol Deng is the team’s second-leading scorer at 16.2 points per game.

Point guard Deron Williams is averaging 20.2 points and 8.8 assists per game for NewJersey.

MarShon Brooks (toe), Mehmet Okur (back) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) are also out for the Nets.

Nets coach Avery Johnson has used 12 different starting lineups in the first 25 games this season. The Nets are tied with Toronto for last in the Atlantic Division and will play two in a row and four of the next five games at home. They own a 3-7 record in Newark, NJ this season and are just 6-12 versus the East.

Knicks 99, Nets 92: Jeremy Lin Sparks Big New York Win

When the New York Knicks and New Jersey Nets got things started at Madison Square Garden, no one could have guessed who the hero would have been. Instead of Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoundemire or Deron Williams, it was little-used guard Jeremy Lin that owned the World's Most Famous Arena as the Knicks downed the Nets, 99-92.

The Harvard graduate came into action on Friday with a career average of 2.8 points per game, but he led all scorers Saturday night with a career-high 25, including some nifty baskets in the paint that brought the Garden faithful to their feet for most of the night. With just over two minutes remaining and the Knicks up six, Lin split defenders Deron Williams and Kris Humphris, drove for a three point play and shared a bow with Anthony.

The Nets were led by Williams' 21 points and 11 assists, though shockingly he couldn't keep up with Lin down the stretch. Kris Humphries added 20 points and 12 rebounds while Jordan Farmar poured in 19 off the bench. A Nets reserve had a career-high as well Saturday, with rookie Jordan Williams scoring 10 points in 26 minutes.

Lin hit on 10-of-19 shots from the field, handed out seven assists and grabbed five rebounds. Arguably more important than any of those numbers was his ball security, as the point guard had just one turnover in 35 minutes of action.

After being released by the Golden State Warriors in December and spending some time with the Houston Rockets, Lin has now turned in the game of his life and if the chanting of "Jer-e-my" by the Garden crowd is any indication, will be a fan favorite going forward.

Keeping things simple after his performance, Lin broke down how the Knicks came out on top.

"We play hard, we play together and we're just thankful to get out of here with a win."

New York has now taken five games in a row from New Jersey.

The Knicks will try to keep up their momentum when they welcome the Utah Jazz on Monday night. The Nets will return home to take on the Chicago Bulls Monday.

Knicks Vs. Nets Preview: Both Teams Playing On Short Rest

The Nets and Knicks will face off tonight in Madison Square Garden. Both teams will be playing on short rest as they look for their ninth win of the season.

Nets Vs. Timberwolves: Nets Lose At Home, 108-105

The New Jersey Nets lost by three points to the Minnesota Timberwolves in the Prudential Center by a score of 108-105 Friday night. Even though the Nets won the game before this, they have lost three of the last four and their 8-16 record puts them in the bottom five teams in the Eastern Conference. Meanwhile, the Timberwolves have an 11-12 record, which puts them in 11th place in the Western Conference.

The Nets were led by guard Anthony Morrow, who had a 42-point performance against the Timberwolves. Kris Humphries scored 16, while Deron Williams scored 12.

The Timberwolves starters were led by Kevin Love who scored 20 points.

The Nets will look to rebound from their loss at home when they take the short trip to New York City to play the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on Saturday night at 7:30 p.m.. The Timberwolves are looking to build off their win over the Nets at home against the Houston Rockets on Saturday night at 8 p.m.

-- For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily, and for updates on the Timberwolves, check out Canis Hoopus.

Nets Vs. Timberwolves: New Jersey Hosts Kevin Love, Minnesota Friday Night

The New Jersey Nets look to continue their mini-revival on Friday night when they host the Minnesota Timberwolves at 7:30 p.m. (YES)

After a slow start to the season, the Nets have won five of their past 10 games and four of their last seven. The most recent win came Wednesday at home against the Detroit Pistons, when New Jersey prevailed on the second night of a back-to-back, 99-96. Deron Williams paced the victory with 26 points and nine assists, and Kris Humphries added 18 points and eight rebounds.

Minnesota is currently last in the difficult Northwest Division at 10-12, but the Timberwolves have shown the ability to beat anybody on any given night. After sliding by the Houston Rockets on Monday, 120-108, Minnesota was downed by the Indiana Pacers on Wednesday, 109-99.

Kevin Love leads the Timberwolves with 25.3 points and 13.6 rebounds, and rookie sensation Ricky Rubio adds 11.4 points and 8.7 assists.

- See NetsDaily for complete discussion and analysis of the Nets.

Nets 99, Pistons 96: With Just Eight Players, Nets Hold Off Pistons

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Deron Williams scored 26 points and dished out nine assists, carrying the short-handed Nets over the road-weary Pistons, 99-96, at Prudential Center.

Kris Humphries added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Farmar chipped in 15 points for the Nets, who won despite dressing only eight players.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game for us with the lack of bodies," said Williams, who also noted this was the Pistons' third game in as many days.

Nets Schedule: Short-Handed Nets Welcome Pistons To Newark

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to put the brakes on a two-game losing streak Wednesday night when they welcome the Detroit Pistons to The Prudential Center.

After winning two in a row and four of six, New Jersey has dropped back-to-back games to the Toronto Raptors and the Indiana Pacers. Before their game against the Pacers, the Nets got the bad news that impressive rookie guard MarShon Brooks would be sidelined indefinitely with a broken toe.

Despite being without Brooks, Brook Lopez, Mehmet Okur and DeShawn Stevenson, New Jersey nearly completed a furious comeback thanks to 34 points from Deron Williams. The 106-99 loss on the road provided the latest in a series of moral victories.

Detroit comes to The Rock with even bigger issues than anything the Nets are dealing with. While they may barely be healthier, not much else has gone their way this season. They are 4-19 and in the midst of a six-game losing streak. Last time out they were destroyed by the previously listless New York Knicks 113-86. Second-year forward Jonas Jerebko led the Pistons against the Knicks with 15 points in just 15 minutes off the bench.

Will Bynum, Ben Gordon and Charlie Villanueva are all out for Detroit Wednesday night.

Joining New Jersey for the game Wednesday night will be newcomer Keith Bogans. The veteran guard from Kentucky averaged just 4.4 points and 1.8 rebounds for the Chicago Bulls last season but started all 82 games. He will bring a much needed warm body to the back court, helping to fill the void left by Brooks' injury.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets return to action Friday night against Kevin Love, Ricky Rubio and the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Pacers 106, Nets 99: Rally Comes Up Short

Indianapolis, IN (Sports Network) - Paul George nailed four three-pointers en route to a career-high 24 points while Roy Hibbert added a double-double with 18 points and 14 rebounds as the Indiana Pacers downed the New Jersey Nets, 106-99.

Danny Granger finished with 21 points, seven rebounds and five assists for the Pacers, who shot 52.1 percent from the field. They've won two straight since dropping a 94-87 decision at Boston on Friday.

"Paul George really carried us through some offensive stretches. He's a heck of a weapon at both ends," Indiana head coach Frank Vogel said.

Deron Williams netted a game-high 34 points and Anthony Morrow added a season- high 28 points for New Jersey, which dropped its second straight game.

Trailing, 98-82, with 7:53 to play in the fourth, the Nets used a 13-0 run to whittle the Pacers' lead to 98-95 with 3:15 to play. Morrow nailed back-to- back treys to cap the surge.

Nets Schedule 2012: The Timberwolves Come To Prudential On Friday

The New Jersey Nets have earned a majority of their wins in the last 11 days, going 4-3 over that span to improve to 7-14 on the season. The wins haven't come against big names, but when your team is seemingly out of the playoff picture in January, any sign of progress mean a lot. Luckily for the Nets, the schedule isn't particularly daunting this week.

On Tuesday they have to travel to face a solid Indiana Pacers club. After that, they host a Detroit Pistons club that may be the NBA's worst, followed by a tough, but certainly winnable game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Friday night.

Here is the complete weekday schedule:

Tuesday, 1/31: Nets at Pacers (7:30 p.m. ET, TV/Radio: YESHD, WFAN 660)

Wednesday, 2/1: Nets vs. Pistons (7:30 p.m., TV/Radio: YESHD, WFAN 660)

Friday, 2/3: Nets vs. Timberwolves (7:30 p.m., TV/Radio: YESHD, WFAN 660)

To see the full Nets 2011-2012 schedule, click here. For more Celtics coverage, visit NetsDaily.

Raptors 94, Nets 73: New Jersey Routed By Toronto

Well, if you are going to blow up a winning streak you might as well do it in style. The New Jersey Nets accomplished that Sunday night at the Prudential Center, suffering a lopsided 94-73 loss to the Toronto Raptors that ended a two-game winning streak.

Nets coach Avery Johnson summed up the team’s effort this way:

“We didn’t have any energy on either side of the floor,” Nets coach Avery Johnson said. “(Toronto) came in, they’re a hungry team, and [DeMar] DeRozan had a big night. Unfortunately we just had a bad offense and bad defense.”

New Jersey (7-14) shot just 36.5 percent from the field for the game. The Nets got a team-high 24 points and six assists from Deron Williams, and 14 from Anthony Morrow. Other than that, though, the offense was non-existent.

New Jersey trailed by just five points at halftime, but the Raptors outscored New Jersey in the third quarter, 26-14, to take control.

— See NetsDaily for complete discussion and analysis of the Nets.

Nets Schedule: Nets Welcome Short-Handed Raptors

The New Jersey Nets will try to extend their longest winning streak of the season when they welcome the Toronto Raptors to The Prudential Center on Sunday night.

The Nets have won two straight, including a 99-96 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. Deron Williams continued his strong play for New Jersey, pouring in 27 points to go along with 10 assists. Anthony Morrow, showing he deserves to stay in the starting lineup, added 22 points while Kris Humphries put together a double-double of 18 points and 11 rebounds.

Despite being right in the middle of the race for one of the final playoff spots in the East, New Jersey has a record of just 2-5 at The Rock this season, compared to 4-7 on the road.

Against the Raptors, the Nets get the benefit of not facing star Andrea Bargnani, who is out indefinitely with a calf injury. They will, however, still have to find a way to stop high-flying DeMar DeRozan and a Toronto squad that has won two of their last three games

Injuries are still an issue for New Jersey, with Brook Lopez still yet to come back from a broken foot. He is joined on the bench by his replacement, Mehmet Okur (back) and possibly rookie MarShon Brooks (Achilles) who is a game-time decision.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 6:00 p.m.

Next up for the Nets is a trip to Indiana to take on the Pacers on Tuesday.

Nets Vs. Cavaliers: Nets Win 99-96 In Cleveland

The New Jersey Nets finished a three-game road trip on a high note with a 99-96 win over the Cavaliers in Cleveland. This was their second win in a row and brings them to a record of 7-13. This was the Cavaliers' fifth loss in the last six games and they now have a record of 7-11. With the win, the Nets are in 10th place in the Eastern Conference (fourth place in the Atlantic Division) and the Cavaliers are in ninth place in the conference (fourth place in Central Division).

The Nets were led by point guard Deron Williams, who scored 27 points in Cleveland. Guard Anthony Morrow scored 22 points, Kris Humphries scored 18, DeShawn Stevenson scored six and Shelden Williams added four points. Jordan Farmar came off the bench to score 11 points while Johan Petro added six and Shawne Williams added five.

The Cavaliers were led by point guard Kyrie Irving, who scored 32 points Friday night and forward Antwan Jamison scored 20. Anthony Parker and Omri Casspi both scored eight points while Anderson Varejao added four. Ramon Sessions led the Cavaliers bench with 11 points. Alonzo Gee came off the bench to score six, Tristan Thompson scored five and Samardo Samuels added two points.

The Nets return home to New Jersey to host the Toronto Raptors on Sunday at 6 p.m. and the Cavaliers go on the road to face the Boston Celtics on Sunday at the same time.

For more updates on the Nets, check out Nets Daily, and for updates on the Cavaliers, head over to Fear the Sword.

Nets Schedule: Road Trip Wraps Up Against Irving, Cavs

The New Jersey Nets will attempt to complete their first winning road trip of the season when they take on the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday night at the Quiken Loans Arena.

After losing to the Chicago Bulls Monday, New Jersey defeated the first-place Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, setting the stage for the winning road trip. The team's best run away from The Prudential Center to this point is a 1-1 batch of games the first week of January.

Related
- Nets At The Quarter-Pole Of The NBA Season
- Deron Williams' Predicament Is Prokhorov's Fault

Against the Sixers, Nets PG Deron Williams played out of his mind, pouring in a game-high 34 points and 11 rebounds. Anthony Morrow played a season-high 41 minutes and added 16 points, while Kris Humphries was good for 13 points and 19 rebounds.

Cleveland broke a four-game losing streak Wednesday night with a 91-81 victory over the struggling New York Knicks. Veteran Antawn Jamison led the Cavs with 15 points and Omri Casspi chipped in 13 points in just 22 minutes. Former Nets coach Byron Scott leads the Cavs and first overall pick Kyrie Irving, who are off to a 7-10 start.

New Jersey standout rookie MarShon Brooks may not get a chance to size up Irving -- the man he's chasing for Rookie of the Year -- due to a lingering Achilles injury. Humphries (illness) and Mehmet Okur are also both game-time decisions for Avery Johnson's crew.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

The Nets return home on Sunday to take on the Toronto Raptors at The Rock.

Nets Vs. 76ers Final Score: New Jersey Gets 97-90 Road Win In Overtime

The New Jersey Nets bdefeated the Philadelphia 76ers in overtime on Wednesday night by a final score of 97-90. The Nets needed a 15-8 advantage in the extra frame. It was their second game of a three-game road trip.

Deron Williams led the way for the Nets with 34 points. His total included the the go-ahead three-point shot with 26.7 seconds left in overtime. Kris Humphries had a season-best 19 rebounds to go with 13 points. Humphries and Williams were two of five New Jersey players to score in double digits.

The Nets are now 3-2 in their last five games, scuffling along after a rough start to the season. They travel to Cleveland on Friday to wrap up their short road trip.

For more Nets coverage, visit SB Nation's Nets site Nets Daily. For more 76ers coverage, head over to Liberty Ballers. For complete NBA coverage, check out SB Nation's NBA hub.

Nets Schedule: Road Trip Continues In Philadelphia

The New Jersey Nets play their second game of a three-game road trip Wednesday night when they take on the Philadelphia 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center.

The Nets are hitting the court after a much needed day off following their first stretch of three games in three days this season. New Jersey finished 1-2 over those games, including a blow out loss to the Chicago Bulls on Monday night. Jordan Farmar led a tired Nets team with 22 points off the bench as the Bulls were never really challenged in the game.

After a strong finish last season, the Sixers are showing the league they are for real with a 12-5 record, good for first in the Atlantic Division. So far they are getting the job done with offense and rebounding, ranked 3rd and 4th in the league, respectively. They easily handled the Washington Wizards on Monday night in a 103-83 victory.

Avery Johnson may once again be without explosive rookie MarShon Brooks as he deals with a case of tendinitis. DeShawn Stevenson was limited to only 10 minutes against the Bulls due to a sore knee and could be sidelined as well. The Nets are already down Brook Lopez and Damion James thanks to foot injuries.

New Jersey has lost 8 straight against the Sixers, their second longest losing streak against any team in the league.

Catch the game locally on YES or WFAN 660 with tip scheduled for 7 p.m.

Next up for the Nets is a trip to Cleveland for a showdown against first overall pick Kyrie Irving and the Cavaliers.

Deron Williams Stars In NBA On ESPN Commercial

Bulls 110, Nets 95: New Jersey Falls Flat In Chicago

Chicago, IL (Sports Network) - Derrick Rose returned to score 22 points with eight assists and five rebounds Monday as the Chicago Bulls topped the New Jersey Nets, 110-95, at United Center.

The Bulls got a lift from Rose, who missed the last four games with a left big toe sprain. Joakim Noah also returned from injury after missing the previous game with a left ankle sprain and added a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds.

"To miss as much time as he did and to come out and play the way that he did says a lot about him", said coach Tom Thibodeau about Rose's return.

Nets At Bulls: Third Game In Three Days Awaits New Jersey

The New Jersey Nets will finish their first back-to-back-to-back of this lockout shortened NBA season on Monday night when they take on the Chicago Bulls in the United Center. New Jersey so far has handled their first of two grueling stretches well with a close loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder and a 97-87 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Nets have now won three of six after starting the season 2-11 and will get a solid test against a Bulls, despite Chicago dealing with plenty of injuries. MVP Derrick Rose (toe), Joakim Noah (ankle), Luol Deng (wrist) and Taj Gibson (ankle) are all banged up and question marks Monday. Chicago has yet to lose a game at the United Center this season.

While improved play by a healthy Deron Williams and MarShon Brooks has fueled New Jersey, they are still without Brook Lopez (foot), Damion James (foot) while Shawne Williams (shin) and DeShawn Stevenson (knee) play through pain.

Chicago will be part of the Nets next back-to-back-to-back as well next month, but will be New Jersey's first opponent instead of the third. The other two teams will be the Milwaukee Bucks and New York Knicks.

New Jersey dropped three of four against Chicago last season and haven't left the United Center with a victory the last three matchups.

You can see the game locally on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip schedule for 8:00 p.m.

After a much needed day of, the Nets head to Philadelphia to take on the Sixers on Wednesday night.

Nets 97, Bobcats 87: Brooks, Williams Lead New Jersey Over Charlotte

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - MarShon Brooks tallied a game-high 20 points with six rebounds as New Jersey handled Charlotte, 97-87, on Sunday evening.

Deron Williams totaled 19 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who have won two of three. Anthony Morrow also had 19 points and Jordan Farmar contributed 13 to the victory.

"We're making strides," Williams said. "Our schedule has probably been one of the toughest in the NBA."

Nets Vs. Bobcats: Homestand Ends Against Charlotte

(Sports Network) - Two of the worst teams the Eastern Conference has to offer get together tonight at the Prudential Center, where the New Jersey Nets will host the Charlotte Bobcats.

The Bobcats will close out a three-game road trip tonight and have lost three straight and nine of their last 10 games. They fell to 0-2 on the trek with Saturday's 95-89 loss at Chicago, as Gerald Henderson had 22 points and nine rebounds to lead Charlotte.

"Somehow we just didn't have the right attitude tonight," Bobcats head coach Paul Silas said. "It just puzzled me because we had three days off. I thought would come out with a lot of energy and intensity tonight, but we just didn't have it."

Nets Vs. Thunder Final Score: Thunder Score Road Win Over Nets, 84-74

Depsite 12 points and 16 rebounds from F Kris Humphries, the New Jersey Nets were unable to keep pace with the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night and fell 84-74 at home.

Kevin Durant, the reigning NBA scoring champion, dropped 20 points to go along with a season-best 15 rebounds, and the Thunder captured their 13th win of the season.

The Nets, who had won two of their last four games, fall to 1-5 at the Prudential Center, and PG Deron Williams missed 13 of his 18 shots from the field. He finished with just 14 points and six assists on the night, and the Nets scored less than 20 points in each of the first three quarters.

Next up for the Nets is a home game tomorrow evening against the Charlotte Bobcats, before they travel to Chicago for their third game in three nights to take on the Bulls.

For more on the Nets, visit Nets Daily. For all of the latest NBA coverage, visit SB Nation's NBA home.

Nets Vs. Thunder: Durant, Westbrook Visit Newark

Following their first two-day break of the season, the rested New Jersey Nets will welcome Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma Thunder to The Prudential Center on Saturday night for the beginning of their first dreaded three games in three days. The Thunder (12-3) own the best record in the Western Conference, though lost their last time out they fell to the lowly Washington Wizards, 105-102. New Jersey picked up their fourth win Wednesday night by taking out the Golden State Warriors.

Against the Warriors, Deron Williams led the Nets with nearly a triple-double of 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds. Rookie sensation MarShon Brooks was nearly as good, pouring in 22 pounds while pulling down eight rebounds and handing out six assists.

In giving the Wizards just their second win of the season, the Thunder turned the ball over 21 times and made just 4 of 19 from beyond the arc. Russell Westbrook led all scorers with 36 points while Durant added 33 of his own.

This is the only time the Nets will face the Thunder this season and dropped both matchups between the two teams last season, including a triple overtime thriller New Jersey lost by three.

You can catch the game on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip off scheduled for 8:00 p.m

New Jersey's back-to-back-to-back continues Sunday at The Rock against the Charlotte Bobcats.

Nets 107, Warriors 100: Williams Leads New Jersey To First Home Win

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Deron Williams had 24 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, leading the Nets to a 107-100 win over the Warriors on Wednesday.

MarShon Brooks added 22 points, six assists and eight boards for the Nets, who picked up their first home win of the season. Kris Humphries finished with 18 points and 15 rebounds.

"It's good to get the win at home," said Williams, "it's something we desperately needed. If you want to be a good team, a playoff team, you have to protect your home court and we hadn't done a good job of that."

Nets Vs. Warriors: Still Searching For A Win In Newark

The New Jersey Nets didn't get a chance to play Golden State on their recent four-game West Coast trip, but the Warriors will be waiting for Avery Johnson's crew at The Prudential Center Wednesday night. The Warriors are 5-8 on the season and have won two in a row while the Nets are just 3-11 and are still searching for their first home win of the season.

Last time out against the Clippers on Monday, the Nets lost 101-91 thanks in large part to a 16-0 run by Los Angeles in the second quarter. As they have shown capable of doing this season, New Jersey stormed all the way back, but couldn't get over the hump, never leading in the game. Exciting rookie MarShon Brooks had a team-high 19 points while Kris Humphries and Deron Williams both chipped in 14.

The Warriors two in a row and three of five, including a 105-95 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night. With guard Stephen Curry missing the last seven games with an ankle injury, Golden State has turned to former Knick Nate Robinson to fill the void on offense. The diminutive guard has provided a spark with 13.9 points a game, including 17 against the Cavs.

Golden State is led by Monta Ellis' 22.6 points per game, while another former Knick, David Lee is averaging 19.9 points and 10.4 rebounds per game. Lee poured in 29 against Cleveland on Tuesday.

If the Nets are going to finally get their first home win of the season, it will be against a team they split two games with last season.

You can catch the game on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip off scheduled for 7:30 p.m.

For the first time this season, the Nets will have two days off after Wednesday night's game. They will then return to action Saturday against the Kevin Durant and the Oklahoma Thunder at The Rock.

Nets Vs. Clippers: New Jersey Can't Complete Comeback, Fall In LA

In what is becoming all too common of an occurrence, the New Jersey Nets dug a huge early hole only to put together a fantastic rally that wasn't quite enough to pull out the victory. This time around it was the Los Angeles Clippers that came out on top with the 101-91 victory Monday afternoon at the Staples Center.

The Nets lost three-of-four on their West Coast trip and are now just 3-11 on the season, second worst record in the NBA.

Blake Griffin set the tone for what turned out to be a physical contest start to finish and it was a 16-0 run in the first quarter -- 11 by Caron Butler -- that proved to be too much for the Nets to overcome. New Jersey was able to tie the game with a 15-2 run of their own late in the fourth quarter, but couldn't ever get over the hump.

Rookie MarShon Brooks was the Nets high scorer with 19 points and added eight rebounds. Deron Williams had 14 points but once again struggled with his shot, hitting on just five-of-15 from the field.

The star of the game for New Jersey, veteran forward Shelden Williams, scored just eight points, but was willing to go toe-to-toe with Griffin late in the game.

Following their four game Western swing, the Nets return for three straight in New Jersey starting with the Golden State Warriors Wednesday night at The Prudential Center.

Nets At Clippers: West Coast Trip Wraps Up In Los Angeles

The New Jersey Nets will look to come home from their four-game West Coast swing with a split Monday afternoon when they take on the Los Angeles Clippers at the Staples Center.

In addition to losing Saturday's 107-94 loss to the Jazz in Deron Williams' return to Utah, the Nets also dropped the opener to their road trip 123-115 to the Denver Nuggets. New Jersey's lone win in their three games away from Newark was a 110-103 victory over the Steve Nash-less Phoenix Suns on Friday night.

Against the Jazz, the Nets were led by forward Kris Humphries' 18 points and 10 rebounds as he continues to help fill the void for the injured Brook Lopez. Williams chipped in 16 points and five assists, but also five turnovers while receiving a mixed reaction from the Utah crowd.

The Clippers have won two in a row and five of six, including a 102-94 triumph over their arena-mates the Los Angeles Lakers on Saturday. The Clippers lost point guard Chris Paul to a hamstring injury against the Lakers and is questionable for Monday's game, though his MRI on Sunday was negative. If he sits, Los Angeles could go with a "big" lineup that includes Caron Butler at shooting guard and Blake Griffin on the wing, coach Vinny Del Negro told reporters.

New Jersey won both games against Los Angeles last season, but that team was very different than the one the Nets will face this time around.

You can watch the game on YES or listen on WFAN 660 with tip-off scheduled for 3:30 p.m..

After Monday's matchup the Nets will come home to face another West Coast team, the Golden State Warriors, at the Prudential Center Wednesday night.

Jazz 107, Nets 94: Utah Gives Deron Williams Rude Homecoming

Salt Lake City, UT (Sports Network) – Deron Williams was met with a mix of boos and cheers in his return to play the Utah Jazz on Saturday night.

“I expected it,” he said.

And there was nothing friendly about the way the basket treated him, either.

Williams scored 16 points, but shot just 3-of-15 from the floor, and the Jazz beat his New Jersey Nets, 107-94, to win for the sixth time in their last seven games.

Al Jefferson had 20 points to lead Utah, Paul Millsap scored 18 and C.J. Miles contributed 17 points off the bench.

“It was an emotional game for everyone,” Millsap said, “but I’m glad we got the win.”

Kris Humphries had a double-double for New Jersey, scoring 18 points with 10 rebounds, but the Nets fell behind by as many as 23 and lost for the 14th time in their last 18 trips to Utah.

Some of those losses came against teams led by Williams, who played his first five-plus NBA seasons for the Jazz but was dealt to the Nets last February under acrimonious circumstances when his relationship with head coach Jerry Sloan crumbled.

Utah also lost Sloan, who retired two weeks earlier.

Frustrated by Utah, Williams made just two of his 12 shots in the first half as the Nets fell behind 30-20 at the first buzzer and 57-40 heading into the break.

“It wasn’t a very good one for me,” said Williams. “It was fun to be back in the building and fun to see all my ex-teammates. … We just didn’t have any legs. They looked like a fresh team. They were beating us to loose balls, getting offensive rebounds. They just looked a lot more energized than we did.”

Jefferson scored 16 of his 20 points in the first two quarters and played only six more minutes the rest of the game.

That’s because the Nets never got closer than 10. After MarShon Brooks’ three- pointer pulled them within 72-62, Josh Howard followed with a jumper to spark a 13-3 run that all but put the game away.

Utah carried an 87-67 lead into the fourth and led by as many as 23 when Enes Kanter’s layup made it 94-71.

Nets At Jazz: Deron Williams Returns To Utah

The New Jersey Nets play the third third of four games on the West Coast Saturday night when they take on the Utah Jazz. This will be the first time Nets point guard Deron Williams will return to Utah and play against the team that he played his entire career with before a late season trade to New Jersey last year.

Williams comes into the game with the Jazz playing his best basketball of the season. In Friday night's 110-103 victory over the Phoenix Suns, the point guard scored a season-high 35 points and dished out 14 assists while only turning the ball over twice.

Though it will get the most attention, there will be more familiar faces going against each other on Saturday. Nets center Mehmet Okur will play in Utah for the first time after spending seven years with the Jazz. Sundiata Gaines, Kris Humphries and DeShawn Stevenson also spent time in Utah.

Meanwhile, the Jazz still have Devin Harris and Derrick Favors who played for New Jersey last year before the Williams trade. Neither former Net is having a ton of success in Utah. Harris is averaging just 8.7 points and 4.5 assists, both the lowest numbers he has posted since he was a backup with the Dallas Mavericks. The former No. 3 overall pick Favors has shown flashes of his potential but is only scoring 8.9 points and 6.9 rebounds early on this season.

The Nets are playing a back-to-back while the Jazz will be fresh thanks to two days off. Last time out they last 90-87 in overtime to the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night, but had won five in a row before that defeat.

You can catch the game on YES or listen on Bloomberg 1130 with tip scheduled for 9 p.m..

New Jersey will wrap up their road trip Monday night when they take on Chris Paul, Blake Griffin and the Los Angeles Lakers.

Nets Vs. Suns: New Jersey Defeats Phoenix, 110-103

The New Jersey Nets won their third game of the season Friday night at US Airways Center, defeating the Phoenix Suns, 110-103. The victory snapped a three-game losing streak. Now, with a 3-9 record, the Nets are in 13th place in the Eastern Conference and in last place in the Atlantic Division. The Suns, now 4-7, are in 11th place in the Western Conference and in third place in the Pacific Division.

The Nets were led by point guard Deron Williams, who scored 35 points, a season high. MarShon Brooks also added 20 points, while Anthony Morrow scored 16, Kris Humphries scored 15 and Mehmet Okur added 11. Jordan Farmar came off the bench to add 10 points.

The Suns were led Saturday night by Center Marcin Gortat, who scored 20 points. Both Jared Dudley and Ronnie Price scored 18 points while Channing Frye scored scored 15 and Shannon Brown added 13.

The Nets will stay out west as they are scheduled to face the Utah Jazz in EnergySolutions Arena on Saturday evening. The Suns will also head out on the road. They face the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday evening.

For more updates on the New Jersey Nets, head over to NetsDaily.

New Jersey Nets At Phoenix Suns: Searching The Desert For A Win

The New Jersey Nets continue their four-game West Coast swing with a stop in the desert to take on the Phoenix Suns at the US Airways Center Friday night. New Jersey has dropped three straight, while Phoenix is looking to rebound from back-to-back losses.

Wednesday night found the Nets explode on offense for 115 points against the Denver Nuggets, but completely lose any thoughts of defense as they feel 123-115. Jordan Farmar led New Jersey with a season-high 26 points off the bench and Anthony Morrow continued his hot streak by hitting on five of nine from beyond the arc.

The Suns lost on Thursday night to the Cleveland Cavaliers, 101-90, when they were burnt by No. 1 overall pick Kyrie Irving for 26 points. Steve Nash did his best to keep Phoenix in the game with 16 points and 15 rebounds in his 35 minutes, looking like anything but a guy in the twilight of his career.

Obviously New Jersey will still be without center Brook Lopez, out with a broken foot, but should get DeShawn Stevenson back into the rotation after sitting two games because of a sore knee. Mehmet Okur is also expected to play with a bad back after putting in 13 minutes against the Nuggets. Damion James continues to sit with a foot injury.

The Nets have lost four in a row and nine of 10 to the Suns, who will represent just the second Western Conference squad they've seen all season.

You can watch the game on YES or listen on WFAN with tip scheduled for 9 p.m..

New Jersey will get right back on the road for Deron Williams' return to Utah when the Nets take on the Jazz Saturday night.

Nets Vs. Nuggets Final Score: New Jersey Drops Another One, 123-115

The New Jersey Nets lost again on Wednesday night, their third loss in a row. Despite cracking triple digits on the score board, it was not enough as the Nets dropped one to the Denver Nuggets by a final score of 123-115. The loss puts them at 2-9 on the season.

Jordan Farmar led the Nets in scoring with 26 points off the bench. He added two rebounds, three assists and two steals to his totals for the game. Deron Williams had 16 points to go with 13 assists. Kris Humphries had 12 points, nine rebounds, three assists and two blocked shots.

Danilo Gallinari led the Nuggets with 22 points. Denver also had three players off the bench in double figures, including Corey Brewer with 19 points.

This was the opening game of a four game Western road trip. The Nets play in Phoenix on Friday. At 2-9, New Jersey has the basement in the Atlantic all to itself. Only Washington has a record worse than the Nets.

For more Nets coverage, visit our team page and team blog, Nets Daily. For complete NBA coverage, visit SB Nation's NBA site.

New Jersey Nets At Denver Nuggets: West Coast Swing Opens Wednesday Night

The New Jersey Nets open a four-game West Coast road trip Wednesday night when they take on the Denver Nuggets at the Pepsi Center. Both the Nets and Nuggets are trying to halt two-game losing streaks.

Monday's meeting is the first time the Nets will get to face Nuggets forward Nene since he chose not to sign with them during free agency. His decision to stay in Denver led New Jersey to turn their focus back to Kris Humphries, who has been better than Nene while playing on a one-year $8 million deal.

Denver's back-to-back losses were to the San Antonio Spurs Saturday night on the road and back home Monday against the New Orleans Hornets. Even though the Hornets were playing without star Eric Gordon, the Nuggets still only scored a season-low 81 points.

Before they hit the road, the New Jersey Nets fell to the Miami Heat Saturday night and the Atlanta Hawks on Monday at the Prudential Center in Newark. Despite slow starts in both games, the Nets did manage to show signs of life late in both contests and will try to find a way to get out of the blocks quicker.

Avery Johnson's crew will continue to play shorthanded. Brook Lopez continues to be sidelined by a broken foot, while both DeShawn Stevenson and Damion James will join him on the bench. Memmet Okur is a game-time decision with a balky back but is expected to give it a go.

This will mark the first Western Conference opponent the Nets have faced all season. Last year they were a disastrous 2-13 on the road against the West.

New Jersey will continue their West Coast swing Friday when they take on the Phoenix Suns.

Nets Vs. Hawks: New Jersey Falls, 106-101

The New Jersey Nets lost their eighth game in their last nine tries Monday night as they were beaten by the Atlanta Hawks. The Nets nets never led after taking a 2-0 on a Johan Petro 8-footer in the first quarter, committing 16 turnovers in the loss.

New Jersey shot well, hitting almost 47 percent of their field goals including 11-for-22 on 3-pointers. Unfortunately, the Hawks shot better, hitting nearly 54 percent of their field goals led by a 10-for-14 performance by Josh Smith. Deron Williams had a nice night, racking up 14 assists in addition to his 15 points on 6-for-17 shooting.

Atlanta led by as many as 16 points in the first quarter, holding the Nets to just 18 points through the game's first stanza. Monday was the third meeting between the two teams so far this season, all of which have resulted in Atlanta wins.

For more on the Nets, head over to the SB Nation blog NetsDaily, as well as their team page. For more on the Hawks, check out Peachtree Hoops.

New Jersey Nets Vs. Atlanta Hawks: Deron Williams, Nets Look To Bounce Back

The New Jersey Nets will try to rebound from Saturday's loss to the Miami Heat when they take on the Atlanta Hawks at the Prudential Center Monday night. In the early stages of this shortened season, this is already the third time these two teams are meeting.

Atlanta first made the trip to Newark for the Nets home opener and promptly destroyed New Jersey by nearly 40. The second meeting was five days later in Atlanta when it was closer, but the Hawks still prevailed by six. This time they meet again on the Nets turf, but New Jersey is still shorthanded, playing without Brook Lopez, Mehmet Okur and Damion James.

Rookie MarShon Brooks told reporters he is about 85 percent right now due to an ankle injury and that he's played through much worse in the past. Look for him to play more than the 24 minute he logged against the Heat.

Deron Williams is fighting through a sore side, but was able to start and contribute a team-high 39 minutes vs. Miami. Helping to take the load off Williams has been Kris Humphries. He's come back from a shoulder injury stronger than ever, putting up his third double-double against the Heat including 25 points and 12 rebounds.

Atlanta won't be at full strength for the matchup. Forward Marvin Williams sprained his ankle over the weekend and didn't make the trip to the Prudential Center.

The Nets have lost eight of the last ten against the Hawks. Opening tip is schedule for 7:30 and you can see the game locally on YES. It's the first game for New Jersey since minority owner Jay-Z and wife Beyonce welcomed baby Blue Ivy Carter into the world. Maybe the baby girl can bring some luck to the Garden State.

Next up for New Jersey is a West Coast trip starting on Wednesday against the Denver Nuggets.

Heat 101, Nets 90: New Jersey No Match For LeBron James, Miami

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - LeBron James scored 32 points, dished out nine assists and pulled down seven rebounds in his return to the lineup, as the Miami Heat dominated the New Jersey Nets, 101-90.

James (ankle) and Dwyane Wade (foot) both missed Miami's triple-overtime win over the Hawks on Thursday. Wade was held out for a third straight game on Saturday.

"We turn the ball over, and he's gone," Nets head coach Avery Johnson said of James. "He is a combination of a tight end, wide receiver [and] running back once he gets two or three steps on you."

Chris Bosh tallied 16 points and two blocks for the Heat, who have won 10 consecutive regular season road games dating back to last year. Udonis Haslem added 12 points and 12 rebounds.

Miami has won three in a row to improve its NBA-best record to 8-1.

Kris Humphries ended with 25 points and 12 boards for the Nets, who fell to 2-7 on the young season. MarShon Brooks and Anthony Morrow had 12 and 11 points, respectively.

New Jersey Nets Vs. Miami Heat: LeBron James Visits Newark

The New Jersey Nets will try to follow up their impressive 97-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors with a win against one of the NBA's best, when the Miami Heat visit the Prudential Center Saturday night. After sitting out a victory over the Atlanta Hawks Thursday night, LeBron James will return to the starting lineup while Dwyane Wade will continue to miss time.

Deron Williams returned from a sore side against the Raptors and led the Nets with 24 points and nine assists. He talked about wanting to face the Heat at full strength, but he will have to settle for just having James on the other side of the ball. Anthony Morrow also poured in 24 points against Toronto, but could be limited after undergoing a root canal earlier Saturday.

Explosive rookie MarShon Brooks should return for New Jersey after sitting out Friday night with a sprained ankle, but he will be limited. Center Mehmet Okur played just three minutes in Toronto after suffering back spasms, is day-to-day and won't be able to play against the Heat.

The matchup will be a contrast in styles. The Heat lead the league in scoring with 109.3 points per game, while the Nets are 29th with an average of 84.9. New Jersey has yet to score 100 points in a game and have only reached 90 four times.

Miami didn't miss James and Wade on Thursday, but will certainly welcome their 48.7 points per game back to the court. They can only expect to be carried by the likes of Chris Bosh so many times throughout the season.

The Nets were swept by the Eastern Conference champions last year and have dropped seven straight to the Heat.

Next up for New Jersey is their third game of the season against the Atlanta Hawks when the two teams meet at the Prudential Center Monday night.

Nets 97, Raptors 85: Losing Streak Ends At Six

The New Jersey Nets put an end to their six-game losing streak Friday night with an 97-85 victory over the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre. It was the Nets second victory of the season and first on the road.

Deron Williams returned from a one-game absence due to a sore side and had his best game of the season. The point guard had a game-high 24 points along with nine assists and five rebounds. The Raptors didn't have anyone that could stay in front of Williams.

Anthony Morrow also had 24 for New Jersey, hitting 6-of-10 from beyond the arc, despite butting head with the Raptors Amir Johnson and briefly being attended to by Nets trainers. DeShawn Stevenson, stepping into the starting lineup for the first time as a member of the Nets, added 15 points in 33 minutes.

Of course it wouldn't be a Nets game without a fresh injury. This time it was starting center Mehmet Okur who came up lame after a missed layup after just three minutes. He was diagnosed with back spasms and missed the rest of the game.

The Raptors were led by Jose Calderon's 19 points and eight assists. Andrea Bargnani came into the game having scored at least 20 points in six straight games, but he managed just 17, while DeMar DeRozan had been averaging 18.5 points and was held to three on 1-for-6 shooting from the field.

The victory was the first time in five games New Jersey was able to pull out a victory in Toronto.

There won't be much time for the Nets to savor this win with the Miami Heat waiting for them at the Prudential Center on Saturday night.

New Jersey Nets At Toronto Raptors: Deron Williams, Kris Humphries Return To The Lineup

The New Jersey Nets will get a few important pieces back Friday night as they attempt to halt a six game losing streak. PG Deron Williams (side) and PF Kris Humphries (shoulder) will return, after missing Wednesday's 89-70 loss to the Boston Celtics, to take on the Toronto Raptors at the Air Canada Centre.

Forward Damion James is out with a right foot injury that has Nets brass concerned and rookie guard MarShon Brooks will be a game time decision after he rolled his ankle late against the Celtics.

Following their season opening victory over the Washington Wizards, the Nets have been a mess trying to (unsuccessfully) pick up their second victory. Losing Williams and Humphries was just the icing on the dreadful cake.

Williams and Humphries will be welcomed back by Raptors forward Andrea Bargnani, currently 7th in the league in scoring with 24 points per game. He is fresh off a 31-point explosion against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday and is in the midst of a streak of six straight games with 20 ore more points.

With the Nets struggling to defend the three point line, they will also need to get a body on the emerging DeMar DeRozan. The third-year guard is averaging 18.5 points while shooting an incredible 63 percent from beyond the arc.

Toronto has won the last four matchups with New Jersey at the Air Canada Centre.

If New Jersey is unable to finally snap their losing streak Friday night, they have return to Newark and face the Miami Heat, not exactly the best way to return home.

Nets-Celtics Score: New Jersey Loses Sixth Straight, 89-70 At Boston

The struggles continued on Wednesday night for the New Jersey Nets, who lost their sixth game in a row. This time the conqueror was the Boston Celtics. Hosting the Nets, the Celtics won by a final score of 89-70.

After two quarters, it looked as though this game might be different for the Nets. They led by a point, 35-34. Boston then went on an 18-3 run at the end of the third quarter, erasing any hopes that the Nets might pick up their second win of the young season.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 24 points, accounting for half of the points in that backbreaking 18-3 portion of the third quarter. Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 12 rebounds, and Brandon Bass had 15 points and 13 boards off the bench for Boston.

MarShon Brooks led the Nets with 17 points in his first career start. Brooks was forced out the game in the fourth quarter with an ankle injury. The Nets made just 40.5 percent of their field goals. Jordan Farmer was the only other Nets player to score double digit points. Deron Williams missed the game with a sore side.

The Nets travel to Toronto for a game against the Raptors on Friday.

For more on the Nets, visit NetsDaily. For more on the Celtics, head over to the Celtics Blog.

Nets Vs. Celtics: Ray Allen Out For Boston

The New Jersey Nets, already playing without center Brook Lopez, have to overcome the loss of PG Deron Williams and PF Kris Humphries Wednesday night when they take on the Celtics in Boston. As it turns out, the home team will be playing shorthanded as well.

Guard Ray Allen will sit out Wednesday's matchup as he battles the flu. The veteran sharp shooter had played in every game so far this season and is averaging 20 points and is fresh off a team-high 27 points Monday night in a 100-92 victory over the Washington Wizards.

The happiest person in the arena to hear about Allen's absence is Nets rookie MarShon Brooks. The young guard will be making his first NBA start due to the injury to Williams and was immediately tasked with trying to guard Allen in head coach Avery Johnson's initial game plan.

Even without the All Star, the Celtics will pose quite a challenge for the struggling Nets. Boston lost the first three games of the season while playing without Paul Pierce, but have won three straight since he returned to the lineup.

While neither team will be at full strength, the Nets still have quite the tall task ahead of them.

Nets Vs. Celtics: Deron Williams Out Vs. Boston With Sore Ribs

If the New Jersey Nets are going to put a stop to their five game losing streak Wednesday night against the Boston Celtics, they are going to have to do it without their best player. Point guard Deron Williams told reporters he is going to sit out the game due a sore side.

Williams was hurt during Monday's loss to the Indiana Pacers when he was involved in a nasty collision on his way to the basket with Tyler Hansbrough. He said after the game he was "fine" but clearly the soreness hasn't gone away enough for him to suit up against the Celtics.

The Nets are already playing without starting center Brook Lopez because of a broken foot and forward Kris Humphries missed the Pacers game with a shoulder injury and will sit out again Wednesday.

Outstanding rookie MarShon Brooks will finally move into the starting lineup in place of Williams, while backup point guard Jordan Farmar will get a chance to play his way out of head coach Avery Johnson's doghouse.

Pacers 108, Nets 94: George, Pacers Send Nets To Sixth Straight Loss

Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Paul George drained five three-pointers en route to 21 points as the Indiana Pacers downed the New Jersey Nets, 108-94, at Prudential Center.

Danny Granger finished with 15 points and six rebounds, while David West contributed 13 points and five rebounds for the Pacers, who improved to 4-1 on the young season. Tyler Hansbrough netted 12 points and grabbed seven rebounds off the bench and Dahntay Jones chipped in with 11 points.

"It's always good to get a [win] on the road," Pacers head coach Frank Vogel said. "We're very pleased with our effort."

Pacers (3-1) At Nets (1-4), 7:30 P.M. ET

The reeling New Jersey Nets (1-4) host the Indiana Pacers (3-1) at the Prudential Center Monday night at 7:30 p.m. ET (YES Network). The Nets will be looking to stop the bleeding from a four-game losing streak that followed a season-opening victory over the Washington Wizards.

Neither team has shot the ball well thus far this season. The Pacers are last in the league in shooting at 38.5 percent and have failed to crack the 40-percent mark in any of their contests. The Nets currently are n 29th place at 38.7 percent.

Deron Williams leads the Nets with an average of 16.5 points per game. He also averages 5.8 assists per contest.

Danny Granger averages 17.5 points per game for Indiana. Roy Hibbert averages 13.5 points and 10.5 rebounds for the Pacers.

Cavaliers 98, Nets 82: Losing Streak Reaches Four

Cleveland, OH (Sports Network) - Antawn Jamison poured in a game-high 23 points and pulled down five rebounds, leading the Cleveland Cavaliers to a 98-82 win over the New Jersey Nets at Quicken Loans Arena.

Daniel Gibson finished with 19 points, while first-overall draft pick Kyrie Irving contributed 13 points and Alonzo Gee netted 11 for the Cavs, who bounced back from an overtime loss at Indiana on Friday.

Despite hitting only one shot, Anderson Varejao ripped down 11 rebounds for Cleveland, which shot an incredible 61.5 percent (16-of-26) from three-point range.

New Jersey Nets Have Another Busy Week Ahead