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 The Nets were mired in a five-game losing streak while the
Thunder were on a four-game skid of their own.
Using a fourth quarter comeback and clutch shooting by guard Jarrett
Jack, the Nets prevailed 94-92 at the Chesapeake Energy Arena.
"A win is a win," Nets guard Deron Williams said. "Anytime you were
on a losing streak like we were, five straight, a win is a win. It
wasn't pretty, it wasn't ideal."
As in their previous two contests, Oklahoma City began to fall apart
in the final quarter, allowing Brooklyn to take the lead with a
19-11 run.
After back-to-back stops, Thunder guard Anthony Morrow and the Nets'
Jack, traded 3-pointers and Oklahoma City trailed 93-88 late.
The Thunder cut the Nets lead to two with 46 seconds left. Brooklyn
guard Joe Johnson missed a shot to give the ball back to the
Thunder. Guard Reggie Jackson once again took an ill-advised layup
attempt in traffic, but the ball went out-of-bounds off Brooklyn,
giving the Thunder another chance.
 "We wanted to keep passing," Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said.
"We had some stretches throughout the game where the ball was a
little sticky. We were trying to play the right way throughout the
game."
Oklahoma City (3-11) then got the ball back to Reggie Jackson, who
nailed a jumper. Johnson was fouled and hit 1 of 2 free throws to
cut the Nets advantage to 94-92 with 4.9 seconds left.
After a time-out, Oklahoma City guard Jeremy Lamb inbounded the ball
to Jackson, who took a 3-pointer from top of the key. It was off the
mark and Brooklyn held on for the victory.
"We made enough plays to get ahead and then down the stretch we had
more flaws offensively," Brooklyn coach Lionel Hollins said. "At the
end, the kid (Jackson) settled for a jump shot instead of driving
for the basket and we got the win.
Jack led all scorers with 23 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Williams
added 17 points while center Brook Lopez scored 16 points and 10
boards.
Jackson led the Thunder with 21 points on 9-for-19 shooting. Forward
Serge Ibaka added 16 points and 10 rebounds.
Brooks made a subtle change to the starting lineup by inserting
guard Andre Roberson in place of Lamb. In his second game back since
returning from a sprained foot, Roberson provided the Thunder with
an instant spark on the defensive end as they led 27-21 after one
quarter.
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The Nets rode the back of Jack to get back into the contest in the
second quarter. He scored 12 points off the bench, but the Thunder
still led 53-49 at halftime.
Oklahoma City was unable to pull away in the third, despite Ibaka
scoring 10 points. Jack and Johnson made sure to keep the Thunder
within striking distance as they trailed by only three points.
"It was just a lot of effort," Lopez said. "We did a good job gang
rebounding as a team; all five crashing the boards and boxing out
made it easier."
NOTES: Oklahoma City coach Scott Brooks said F Kevin Durant and G
Russell Westbrook will both participate in practice Saturday. "They
had good workouts the last couple days," Brooks said. "Probably not
any of the contact stuff, (but) they will go through some of our
practice and we'll go from there." Per the NBA's hardship rule,
neither can return to the lineup until the Nov. 28 home game against
the New York Knicks. ... Brooklyn F Andrei Kirilenko didn't make the
trip to Oklahoma City with the team. Coach Lionel Hollins was asked
if Kirilenko would rejoin the Nets after the two-game road trip. "I
have no idea," Hollins said. "I make choices and that's the way we
go." Kirilenko was a DNP/coach's decision or inactive the previous
three games. ... With the Nets in town, it gave former Boston
teammates C Kendrick Perkins of the Thunder and F Kevin Garnett of
the Nets a chance to catch up. "We talked a little noise last night
on the phone," Perkins said. "(Garnett) was like 'we on one (losing
streak), so they trying to get a win and I said (shoot) I'm on one
too, we trying to get a win. So he's still my big homie but not
right now, though."
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