|
 And it was Johnson's replacement in the starting lineup that led the
way.
Forward Bojan Bogdanovic had 20 of his 24 points in the first half
and the Nets kept the Phoenix Suns reeling with a 116-106 victory
Thursday.
Bogdanovic replaced Johnson, who was waived by the team earlier
Thursday, as a starter and responded by hitting 7 of 10 shots
including three 3-pointers in the first half.
"He was really our leader," Bogdanovic said of Johnson. "Everyone
knew we needed to have more effort. It's good that we played great
all games except for the last couple of minutes. We hit many shots
in the first half and then it was tough for them to catch us."
Forward Thaddeus Young scored 18 points and guard Markel Brown had
16 for Brooklyn. After losing 15 of 17 games, the Nets (16-42) have
gone 4-4 in the last eight.
The Nets snapped a seven-game losing streak on the road, their first
since beating the Celtics in Boston on Jan. 2, and won for the fifth
time in 25 road games this season.
"We just came out with fantastic energy and we never really
waivered," said Nets center Brook Lopez, who contributed 12 points
and six rebounds. "(Bogdanovic) was aggressive early, he looked for
his stuff and knocked down some open shots, and that's what we've
come to expect from him."
Forward Mirza Teletovic had a season-high 30 points and 11 rebounds
in 30 minutes for Phoenix.
Ronnie Price added 16 points for the Suns (14-44), who were swept by
the Nets and continued the worst run in the 49 years of the
franchise.
Phoenix has lost 13 straight games, tying the longest losing streak
in one season set when the Suns started the 1996-97 season 0-13.
They also lost the final game of the 1995-96 season, making for a
14-game stretch overall.
They have lost eight straight games at Talking Stick Arena -- the
longest home losing streak in franchise history.
Phoenix has lost 28 of their last 30 games in all, dating back to
when they were 12-16 on Dec. 18. Suns interim coach Earl Watson is
0-9 since taking over.
"It's just tough man," said Teletovic, who is the second player in
the NBA this season to score 30 points and have a double-double in
30 minute or less, joining DeMarcus Cousins of the Sacramento Kings.
"Nobody here likes losing and we're trying to figure it out. We just
have to bring more energy. I think the whole game, they were running
downhill, coming at us. We have to get it back together and be
smarter in the way we play."
The Suns used an early 13-2 run to lead by as many eight at 19-11 on
a 3-pointer Teletovic with 5:34 left. Price had nine of Phoenix's
first 13 points, but didn't score again for the rest of the half.
[to top of second column] |
And the rest of the half was all Nets.
Brooklyn regained the lead for good at 25-23 on Bogdanovic's
17-foot, step-back jumper with 1:52 left. He followed it with his
second 3-pointer of the quarter 26 seconds later and the Nets led
34-29 after one quarter.
"The first unit kind of set the tone," Watson said. "Then we started
making substitutions and they snuck back against our second unit and
leveraged out the game.
"There is no one or two players that wins or loses games. We win as
a team and lose as a team. The main thing is we continue to push
forward and find ways to continue to build."
Phoenix was still within seven points at 52-45 after a Devin Booker
with 2:21 left in the half. But the Nets scored the final 14 points
of the quarter and nine in the final 40 seconds, including
3-pointers by Bogdanovic and guard Wayne Ellington and a Bogdanovic
running layup with 1.5 seconds to give Brooklyn a season-high,
66-point first half and a 21-point lead.
"The last (minute) they kind of pushed away," Watson said. "It was
layups, dunks and threes, and back-to-back threes were significant."
The Suns made one more push, opening the third quarter with a 14-4
run and pulling to 70-59 on a Teletovic 17-footer with 7:15 left.
Teletovic had 10 points in the quarter.
Phoenix imploded defensively and the Nets reeled off a 15-2 run to
answer to take their biggest lead at 85-61 on a Brook Lopez layup
with 3:27 to go.
The Suns inched within 105-95 on Tyson Chandler's free throw with
2:08 left before Young followed a cutting layup with a floater in
the lane to put the Suns away for good.
NOTES: Nets interim coach Tony Brown on the team's decision to waive
G Joe Johnson: "He's been the most professional guy I've been
around. He's quiet but a leader on the court, a very good teammate
and has done everything we asked of him. I'm sad he's not going to
be around." F Bojan Bogdanovic started in the spot created by
Johnson's departure. ... Suns G Phil Pressey, on a 10-day contract,
had 10 assists in the 124-84 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers on
Monday. He is the fifth Sun to have 10 assists in a game this
season, joining Gs Brandon Knight, Eric Bledsoe, Archie Goodwin and
Devin Booker. ... Suns interim coach Earl Watson, who entered the
game 0-8 since taking over for Jeff Hornacek on Feb. 1: "We've been
itching for a win. It's important for us to play the right way and
win the right way."
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