WHAT IT MEANS: The Brooklyn Nets extended their winning streak to six games for the first the first time this season.
The Nets scored 17 straight points early in the fourth quarter to rally back for a 97-86 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night at Barclays Center.
Brooklyn (22-15) is now 8-1 under interim coach P.J. Carlesimo, 8-15 against .500 or better teams (at time of game played).
The Nets outscored the Pacers 28-11 in the decisive fourth. It was the fewest points the Nets have surrendered in the final period this season.
D-WILL: Carlesimo said before the game that Deron Williams (right thigh contusion) probably shouldn’t play with his injury. But D-Will wanted to anyway. Good move. Williams finished with 22 points on 7-for-18 shooting in 41 minutes. He added nine assists and five rebounds. He has made 32 straight free throws, his longest streak as a Net. His backcourt mate, Joe Johnson, added 20 points, including 14 in the second half.
INJURY UPDATE: Gerald Wallace (bruised ribs) did not play. Kris Humphries (sore left ankle) returned to score 10 points and grab nine rebounds. Jerry Stackhouse (sore hamstring) also returned. Mirza Teletovic (illness) did not.
BROOK-LYN: Brook Lopez struggled for a second straight game -- until the fourth quarter (10 points), anyway scoring -- 15 points on 5-for-14 shooting and grabbing nine rebounds. Lopez didn’t record his first field goal until there were 45.8 seconds left in the second quarter. He is 2-9 in his career against Roy Hibbert (opponent season-high five blocks). His backup, Andray Blatche, fared much worse (five points on 1-for-8 shooting).
CAN’T STOP THEM: David West destroyed the Nets from mid-range all evening long, finishing with 27 points. Former Net Gerald Green also had his way, adding 15 points off the bench.
THIRD IS THE BAD WORD: After playing their best two third quarters of the season in their previous two games, the Nets trailed by as many as 12 in the frame on Sunday night. They entered the fourth quarter shooting just 37.3 percent.
BAD SECOND: The Nets were outscored 28-19 in the second quarter as the Pacers took a 49-46 lead to the locker room. Brooklyn shot just 36 percent in the frame. D-Will went 1-for-5.
STARTING STRONG: The Pacers started off by hitting eight of their first 10 shots and taking a 17-11 lead. But the Nets fought back, using a 16-1 run to go in front after Indiana missed nine straight shots. D-Will had 12 points in the first quarter on 5-for-7 shooting, 2-for-2 from 3-point range.
WHO’S IN THE HOUSE? Jake Gyllenhaal, Willie Randolph
UP NEXT: Nets versus Raptors on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m.