(SportsNetwork.com) – The Brooklyn Nets go for their third straight win when
they resume a four-game homestand Wednesday versus the young and feisty
Minnesota Timberwolves at Barclays Center.
The Nets won their second straight game by dismantling the injury-riddled
Oklahoma City Thunder, 116-85, on Monday behind 18 points from Brook Lopez and
17 out of Deron Williams. Williams handed out nine assists, while Alan
Anderson and Joe Johnson scored 18 and 13 points, respectively. Johnson scored
34 points in the previous win over Detroit.
Brooklyn led 32-19 after 12 minutes and shot a season-high 52.4 percent. It
also scored 21 points off 18 Oklahoma City turnovers and committed just eight
giveaways in the home opener.
“We want to protect home court and we did a good job tonight,” Williams said.
Williams has played more than 35 minutes in every game this season. Kevin
Garnett was held to six points and six rebounds versus the Thunder, one game
after totaling 18 points and a game-high 14 rebounds against Detroit.
The Nets were 18-12 against the West last season, including a 9-3 mark after
the All-Star break. They were 9-1 at home versus the West after Jan. 1.
Brooklyn will also entertain New York and Orlando on the stay.
Meanwhile, the Timberwolves fell to 1-2 on the season following a 106-105 loss
to the Derrick Rose-less Chicago Bulls on Saturday at Target Center.
Wolves rookie Andrew Wiggins fouled Jimmy Butler in the game’s final second
and he sank both shots for the win.
“I could have changed the outcome of the game, so it’s a learning experience
for me,” said Wiggins.
Wiggins had eight points and Kevin Martin poured in 33 on 9-of-14 shooting.
Nikola Pekovic scored 17 points and Anthony Bennett added 12 off the bench in
defeat. Ricky Rubio, who signed a four-year contract extension on Friday,
posted six points and a career-high 17 assists. Chicago had 15 assists as a
team.
Thaddeus Young collided with Butler during the game and passed subsequent
concussion tests. Young took an inadvertent elbow to the head from Butler
before halftime and was floored for several minutes. Young is averaging 17.7
points in the first three games of the season, his first with Minnesota since
coming over via trade with Philadelphia.
Saturday’s loss marked the Wolves’ third game decided by six points or fewer
in as many this season. They were 8-15 in those circumstances a season ago.
The Wolves will play three straight and five of six games on the road.
In other news, Martin was fined $15,000 for an obscene gesture during the
fourth quarter against the Bulls. After hitting a 3-pointer that gave the
Timberwolves a 102-100 lead with 1:37 remaining in the fourth quarter, Martin
placed both of his hands towards his crotch while looking toward the bench.
Minnesota and Brooklyn split two meetings last season with each team holding
serve as the host. The T-Wolves are 7-3 in the last 10 games in this series
and will host the Nets on March 16. They lead the all-time series, 26-21, but
are just 8-16 as the visiting team.
