NETS GO BIG IN TEXAS
Regroup to end Spur hex in overtime
The Nets hadn’t won a game in San Antonio against the Spurs since Game 2 of the 2003 NBA Finals. They snapped that drought in a 124-113 victory over Gregg Popovich’s crew on Monday, but it didn’t come easy.
The Nets held a 108-98 lead with 2:12 to go in the fourth quarter, then turned the ball over, missed shots and surrendered that lead as the game went into overtime. It all happened so fast:
At one moment, the game was in the bag.
In the next moment, not only was the lead gone, but the momentum had shifted all the way into the Spurs’ favor.
“One or two mistakes, but we also missed two layups. The game’s over (if we make those),” said Steve Nash. “Of course, you could say we made a mistake or two down the stretch. More importantly, if we had made a couple layups, the game is over. Still plenty to build on, but lots of positives as well.”
The Nets went on to seize that momentum back in the fourth quarter, leaning on their stars. Kyrie Irving hit a pair of big threes and found Bruce Brown, a notably below-average threepoint shooter, for a top-of-thekey three that gave the Nets an eight-point overtime lead. Irving took 23 shots to get to his 27 points, but made two of his three attempts in the extra period to put the Nets over the hump.
“It was a great response. You miss a couple bunnies and they make a shot at the buzzer, you can fold. You can think it’s not our night. You could drop your head a little bit,” Nash continued. “You could come out and lack confidence, but we came out with confidence, made big shots, defended, rebounded, and took care of business in overtime, so great response from our guys after a disappointing last minute or so.”
James Harden recorded his seventh triple double since joining the Nets. The Spurs couldn’t contain Harden, whose elevated playmaking and scoring has vaulted him into the league’s Most Valuable Player conversation.
Nets players have each agreed Harden’s court vision and supreme control of the offense makes their lives easier. He finished with 30 points, 15 assists and 14 rebounds.
“He’s a brilliant basketball player. He makes others better. He can get to the line. He can finish in the paint, and he’s always a threat from three. He literally can do almost everything there is to do out there, and he’s been a great leader for us,” said Nash. “He can control the game. He’s a very smart defender. I think he’s been outstanding as far as just keeping his team on track, leading, talking things out, communicating, and his passion for the game and willingness and want to win is fantastic.”
The Spurs, though, refused to go away. Every San Antonio starter scored in double figures, led by DeMar DeRozan, who scored 22, and the pair of young guards, Lonnie Walker IV and Dejounte Murray who each scored 19. Patty Mills came off the bench and hit four threes for the Spurs, continuing his campaign as one of many Nets killers across the league.
The Spurs also had no answer for Nic Claxton, the second-round pick out of Georgia who had his coming-out party in San Antonio.
The second-year forward-center hadn’t played all season dealing with tendinitis in his right knee, but in his third game since returning from his injury, Claxton scored 17 points in 17 minutes and recorded three blocks, including one on DeRozan, after which Claxton told DeRozan, “Don’t come in here.”
It was a career high and a career night for a talented forward who is in line to take the reins as the Nets’ big man of the future — or be on the next plane out of town as his value skyrockets amid one of the ripest star-powered trade markets in recent NBA history.
“He was great. His activity was outstanding; made a few mistakes, but so did everyone, and he showed some ability,” Nash said of Claxton. “He got fouls, blocked shots, steals, went to the basket, scored and made free throws, so really proud of his ballgame tonight. It was a big part of our own win and he’ll
continue to get better.”
Claxton has seen an uptick in minutes in the absence of Jeff Green, the veteran forward who suffered a shoulder injury in the fourth quarter against the Clippers as a byproduct of a screen from Patrick Beverley.
The Nets’ victory was a rebound from their eight-game win streak-snapping loss to the Mavericks on Saturday.
The Nets have one more game on the road, in Houston against Harden’s former team before the March 5-10 All-Star break.