WHAT IT MEANS: The Nets were doing fine against the Grizzlies on Wednesday night -- until they Linploded in the fourth quarter. The Nets were outscored 19-9 over the last seven minutes of the final stanza, and lost their season-high seventh straight game, 105-100, at Prudential Center to fall to 8-22 on the season. During that span, the Nets went 2-for-9 from the field and committed four crucial turnovers -- at one point going about 6 1/2 minutes without a field goal. The Nets wound up shooting 51.4 percent, but went just 3-for-12 from 3-point range in the second half, which led to their demise. The Nets led by as many as 11, and had runs of 15-0 in the first quarter, 13-0 in the second quarter and 9-0 to end the third quarter, but none of that mattered. Seven Nets scored in double figures. They were a perfect 15-for-15 from the free throw stripe.

D-WILL: Deron Williams had 20 of his game-high 26 points in the first half -- but none in the fourth quarter. He added 11 assists and shot 9-for-18 overall -- 4-for-10 from 3-point range. It was D-Will’s 12th points/assists double-double of the season. He got poked in the jaw by Tony Allen with 6:36 left in the fourth quarter. He stayed down for a bit, but got up and headed to the bench, where he was worked on by trainer Tim Walsh. Williams checked back with 5:03 remaining.

TURNING POINT: When D-Will checked out. The Nets were never the same team from there.

WALKING WOUNDED: Small forward Shawne Williams and point guard Jordan Farmar missed the game to injuries. Farmar was a late scratch due to a right groin strain. The Nets wound up starting their 15th different lineup of the season. DeShawn Stevenson returned to the lineup after missing the last two weeks with a sore right knee.

STAT OF THE NIGHT: The Nets scored the last 15 points of the first quarter to take a 28-23 lead into the second period. It was the Nets’ first lead after a first quarter since Jan. 27.

PLAY OF THE GAME: Late in the first half, Mike Conley stole the ball from Brooks, raced down the other end on the fastbreak and threw the ball off the backboard to Rudy Gay, who finished a reverse dunk.

CLASSY GESTURE: Before the game, the Nets honored late Newark native Whitney Houston by playing her famous rendition of the national anthem from the 1991 Super Bowl.

UP NEXT: Nets at Pacers, Thursday night, 7 p.m.