The Nets have compiled a 3-1 record at the halfway point of their two week road trip and will look to improve on that mark Wednesday in Portland.
On Saturday the Nets faced arguably their toughest test on the whole road trip, having to go into Los Angeles to face Chris Paul and the Clippers. The Nets were able to slow the game down effectively enough to have a slim fourth quarter lead, however Paul took over down the stretch to lead his team past the Nets by a score of 101-95.
Paul had 17 of his game-high 29 points in the fourth quarter, in addition to dishing out 11 assists. The Nets were led by 18 points from both Lopez and Williams. Gerald Wallace had one of his best games in a long time, scoring 15 points, including two three-pointers, while adding 5 assists and 3 steals.
The Nets were able to bounce back on Sunday, just barely, as they defeated the Phoenix Suns 102-100. Suns’ center Hamed Haddadi missed a point blank put back as time expired to seal the victory for Brooklyn. Lopez and Williams once again led the Nets in scoring, dropping 21 and 20 respectively.
The Nets were outscored by 10 in the second half, allowing the Suns to get back into a game they had been in control of. Goran Dragic had a huge day for Phoenix, scoring 31 points and handing out 12 assists. Wes Johnson got hot for the Suns as well, hitting five three-pointers on the way to 21 points.
After Wednesday’s battle in Portland the Nets play the red hot Nuggets Friday, winners of 15 straight, before finishing up the road trip with games in Utah and Cleveland.
Sam Jackson: PureSportsNY