MEMPHIS: The struggling Brooklyn Nets seized a much-needed NBA victory yesterday with a 97-88 triumph over the Memphis Grizzlies.
Brook Lopez, in his second game back from an ankle injury, took charge in the fourth quarter, scoring 12 of his 20 points in the final period to help the Nets seal the win.
Lopez, who was sidelined for seven games, added nine rebounds, Joe Johnson scored 27 points and Andray Blatche chipped in 21 for the Nets, who showed renewed energy in bouncing back from a 114-95 loss at Houston on Friday.
Coach Jason Kidd benched most of his starters for the entire second half of that game, but Brooklyn came out strong against the Grizzlies, taking a 48-37 halftime lead and thwarting Memphis’ efforts to rally.
“Some of us, man, we have to look in the mirror,” Johnson said of the Nets’ early-season struggles. They had lost seven of the previous eight games.
“As the coaching staff said, they don’t think we’re giving it our all or we’re not playing hard. Everybody has to check themselves.”
Quincy Pondexter scored for 20 of his 22 points in the final 13 minutes, but it wasn’t enough for the Grizzlies.
Mike Conley had 16 points and 10 assists in the defeat, Memphis’s third in their last four games.
Elsewhere, center Andrew Bynum had 20 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks as the Cleveland Cavaliers posted a home victory over the Chicago Bulls 97-93.
Big-man Bynum, who missed the 2012-13 campaign with knee issues, showed flashes of his best form as he recorded his first double-double of the season and helped the Cavs end a five-game losing skid and improve to 5-12 for the season.
Meanwhile, the Houston Rockets survived a spirited comeback by the San Antonio Spurs to hand their Texas rival their first home loss of the season in their 112-106 victory.
Guard James Harden scored a game-high 31 points for the Rockets, who led by 23 points in the second quarter.
The Spurs opened the second half with much more intensity and closed out the third quarter with a 20-8 run, briefly cutting the lead to a single point.
Shooting guard Kevin Martin finished with a game-high 27 points as the Minnesota Timberwolves snapped a three-game losing skid by picking up a rare road 112-106
victory.
The Dallas Mavericks lost for only the second time at home this season, but it was their second consecutive defeat after blowing a 17-point lead at Atlanta on Friday.
Point guard John Wall had 26 points and 12 assists, swingman Trevor Ariza scored 24 and the Washington Wizards survived a chaotic second half to beat the Atlanta Hawks 108-101.
Washington never trailed during the final three quarters, led by 18 points in the second half, and made 12 three-pointers to fend off multiple Atlanta rallies.
Milwaukee shooting guard OJ Mayo scored 22 points as the Bucks snapped an 11-game losing streak with a home victory 92-85 over the Boston Celtics.
Long-range shooting proved a big difference as the Bucks made 8-of-17 three-pointers, while Boston went just 4-of-19 from beyond the arc.
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