Nets beat Rockets 110-105
Joe Johnson scored 22 points (15 in the fourth quarter), and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Houston Rockets 110-105.
The Nets took control with an 18-2 run in the first quarter and led by as many as 18.
The Rockets got within 84-82 on Marcus Thornton’s driving layup with 8:45 to play, but Johnson answered with a corner 3-pointer, and the Rockets got no closer than 105-102.
During clutch time, the Nets outscored the Rockets 14-2. Johnson scored 5 of the Nets’ 14 on 2 for 2 shooting and 1 for 1 at the line. In the fourth quarter, Thornton had 3 steals, 1 of them during an 8-0 Rockets run, and the Rockets scored 6 points off them.
Brook Lopez had 24 points (16 in the paint), 8 rebounds and 5 blocks, and Thaddeus Young added 20 points, 12 rebounds and 3 steals on 10 for 13 shooting. The Nets had 3 20-point scorers.
For the Rockets, Thornton had 32 points and 3 steals on 12 for 18 shooting off the bench, and Corey Brewer added 22 points and 3 steals off the bench. Patrick Beverley had 10 points and 5 steals. Thornton scored 17 of his 32 points in the fourth quarter.
The Nets shot 55.6% from the field to the Rockets’ 47.6%. The Rockets turned it over 24 times, about 7 more than usual for this many possessions. They outscored the Nets 67-15 off the bench. The Nets’ starters outscored the Rockets 43-27 in 18 minutes together.