WHAT IT MEANS: Super Joe!
Joe Johnson delivered a game-winning jumper at the buzzer, and the Brooklyn Nets survived the Detroit Pistons, 107-105, in double-overtime on Friday night. Johnson finished with a game-high 28 points in 52 minutes.
Brook Lopez, who had missed the last seven games due to a sprained right foot, posted nine points, four rebounds and three blocks in 24 minutes in his return to the lineup.
The Nets (13-9) have won two in a row. They snapped a four-game home losing streak.
SUPPORTING ACTORS: Gerald Wallace scored a season-high 25 points on 9-for-15 shooting and added 10 rebounds, while “crashing” to the floor on several occassions. Andray Blatche came off the bench to chip in 16 points before fouling out in the extra session. Johnson has six 20-point games this season.
D-WILL HURT: Deron Williams suffered a left quad contusion at the 1:41 mark of the first quarter after being pushed from behind by Jason Maxiell under the basket. He received treatment from trainer Tim Walsh, then re-entered at the 5:36 mark of the second. D-Will finished with 17 points, six assists and five turnovers. He missed potential game-winner at the end of regulation.
STAT OF THE NIGHT: The Nets were outrebounded, 54-43.
GAME OF RUNS: A 24-3 second-quarter spurt gave the Nets a 17-point lead. In the second, the Nets outscored the Pistons 36-24, shot 63.6 percent from the field and went 5-for-9 from 3-point range. Detroit countered with a 37-14 run of its own to re-take the lead, 77-71, late in the third quarter. The Pistons outscored the Nets, 30-14, in the third.
HE DID WHAT?!?! In the first quarter, C.J. Watson threw a blind behind-the-back pass over his head to a streaking Wallace from beyond half-court for a two-handed slam
WHO’S IN THE HOUSE? Jerry Seinfeld, Mark Henry
UP NEXT: Nets at Bulls on Saturday night at 8 p.m.