Nets rally from 19 down to beat Warriors

[March 31, 2012]  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- Gerald Green tied the score with a thundering one-handed dunk from the baseline and added a go-ahead basket moments later, and the New Jersey Nets rallied from 19 points down in the second half to beat the Golden State Warriors 102-100 on Friday night.

Gerald Wallace had 24 points and 18 rebounds for the Nets, who ended a six-year losing streak at Oracle Arena. Wallace scored 10 points over the final 6 minutes of the game and blocked Charles Jenkins' potential tying shot just before time ran out.

Kris Humphries added 20 points and nine rebounds while Deron Williams had nine points and a season-high 20 assists to help New Jersey to its third win in four games.

David Lee had 27 points and six rebounds for Golden State, which led 76-57 midway through the third quarter but couldn't get much going offensively the rest of the way.

The Nets hadn't won in Oakland since Nov. 21, 2005, and appeared to be on their way to extending the drought before storming back to outscore the Warriors 32-16 in the fourth quarter.

Wallace led the charge on both ends, helping the comeback when he stole the ball from Lee underneath New Jersey's basket for an easy score. He finished 7 of 16 from the floor and added five assists.

Green added 20 points, none more critical than his final two baskets when he soared in from the left baseline and split two defenders for a one-handed slam, then followed it with his soft floater 36 seconds later.

That was critical for the Nets, who went into the game limping as starting center Shelden Williams (injured right eye) and backup Jordan Williams (concussion) were both hurt during Wednesday's 100-84 win over the Indiana Pacers and were unavailable.

Shelden Williams did not make the trip and will be re-evaluated next week. Jordan Williams did join his teammates out West but did not play.

The win was New Jersey's third in four games following a stretch in which they dropped seven of nine.

For Golden State, it was yet another setback for a team that has been struggling since trading leading scorer Monta Ellis to the Milwaukee Bucks.

The Warriors have dropped nine of 11 games since the trade and now head on the road to play seven of their next nine.

Lee has helped shoulder the scoring load for Golden State since Ellis trade and got off to a fast start against the Nets.

He made six of his first seven shots and scored 14 points in the first quarter, including buckets on consecutive trips down the floor when the Warriors built an early seven-point lead.

Johan Petro, who missed New Jersey's previous two games with a bruised right shoulder, pulled the Nets within 24-22 with a powerful one-handed dunk before Brandon Rush drove the length of the floor and around Williams in the key for an easy layup to put the Warriors up by four.

Dominic McGuire's reverse layup pushed Golden State's lead to 14 midway through the second quarter, and after a brief run by New Jersey, Lee followed his own miss to give the Warriors a 51-42 halftime lead.

Rookie center Jeremy Tyler gave Golden State a boost with all 10 of his points in the third quarter. Tyler, making only his seventh NBA start, added four rebounds.

The Warriors, who were booed heavily by the home crowd following Wednesday's 102-87 loss to New Orleans, took a double-digit lead into the fourth before the Nets made their late push.

NOTES: Golden State PG Stephen Curry (sprained right ankle) missed his 12th straight game. ... The Warriors have sold out seven straight, their longest streak of the season. ... The Nets signed Dennis Horner to a 10-day contract before the game. The 6-foot-9 forward had been playing with the Springfield Armor of the D-League and had been averaging 17 points and 8.5 rebounds. ... Injured Nets G Jordan Farmar accompanied the team on the trip but did not suit up for the game, the third straight game he's missed due to a strained groin.

[Associated Press]

Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.