The AP reports: The Magic not only saw their bid for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference end with a 103-93 loss to the New Jersey Nets on Saturday night, they also endured the sight of Hedo Turkoglu being helped off the court in the fourth quarter with a sprained left ankle… Vince Carter led the way for New Jersey with 27 points and nine assists, but this also was a Nets’ starting lineup that featured three rookies—center Brook Lopez, forward Ryan Anderson and guard Chris Douglas-Roberts… Keyon Dooling added 12 points and 10 assists for the Nets, who played without All-Star guard Devin Harris (shoulder). Lopez added 13 points and 11 rebounds for the Nets, who were eliminated from playoff contention earlier this week. Douglas-Roberts had 10 points and Anderson nine.
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Pistons beat Nets 100-93, clinch playoff spot
The AP reports: On Friday, the Pistons got 46 points from their bench and clinched a playoff spot with a 100-93 victory over the New Jersey Nets. “We’re getting better and better every game,” said reserve guard Will Bynum, who led the Pistons with 20 points… New Jersey (32-47) lost for the eighth time in 10 games as coach Lawrence Frank went with a young lineup for much of the game. Rookie Ryan Anderson led the Nets with 20 points, one short of his career high, and fellow first-year players Chris Douglas-Roberts and Brook Lopez had 16 each.
Celtics survive scare, beat Nets 106-104
The AP reports: If the Boston Celtics’ stars are going to get any rest for what could be a long playoff run, they’re going to have to earn it. “I thought they hadn’t played well enough to sit,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said pointedly about bringing his starters back into the game to hold off the New Jersey Nets down the stretch of a 106-104 victory on Wednesday night… Rajon Rondo had 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists, coming back into the game for the final 5 minutes after New Jersey cut what seemed like a secure nine-point lead to five… Vince Carter had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who were eliminated from the playoff race when Detroit beat New York earlier Wednesday night.
Carter scores 15 as Nets crush Philadelphia 76ers
The AP reports: Vince Carter scored 15 points and the Nets kept their playoff hopes alive for a couple more days by handing the Philadelphia 76ers their worst loss of the season, 96-67 Sunday night… The Nets (32-45) were pushed to the brink of elimination while their game was being contested when the Detroit Pistons (37-40) beat the Charlotte Bobcats 104-97. New Jersey and Detroit each have five games left. New Jersey will miss the postseason for the second straight year if it loses one or the Pistons win one… Sixth man Lou Williams had 14 points to lead the Sixers, who looked drained a day after beating Detroit to clinch a second straight playoff berth… Andre Iguodala and Andre Miller combined for 12 points on 4-of-17 shooting.
Gordon leads Bulls over Nets, 103-94
The AP reports: Ben Gordon scored 12 of his 18 points in the fourth quarter, John Salmons added 17 and the Bulls beat the New Jersey Nets 103-94 on Saturday for their eighth win in 11 games… “The thing with BG is there are not a lot of shots that he takes that you can say, ‘Oh that’s a terrible shot,’ because you know he’s capable of making it,” said Joakim Noah, who contributed 12 points and 10 rebounds… Brook Lopez led the fading Nets (31-45) with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Ryan Anderson scored 17 and grabbed 10 boards, but Vince Carter struggled with a sore left Achilles tendon after tweaking it in practice the previous day.
Nets finally win, beat Pistons 111-98
The AP reports: Devin Harris had 19 points and 11 assists, and the Nets snapped a five-game skid with a 111-98 victory over the sluggish Pistons on Wednesday night. “I think this says when we play the right way we’re competitive and also that we haven’t mailed it in,” said Nets guard Keyon Dooling, who was inserted into the starting lineup and responded by matching his season high with 23 points… “It’s very surprising. Tonight was a game that we had to get,” said Richard Hamilton, who led the Pistons with 29 points… Brook Lopez added 19 points on his 21st birthday, fellow rookie Ryan Anderson had 14 and Vince Carter 12 for New Jersey… Rodney Stuckey, Tayshaun Prince and Walter Herrmann scored 16 points for Detroit… Allen Iverson scored four points on 1-of-8 shooting and handed out four assists, but at times he looked out of control, particularly in the second quarter.
Jefferson has double-double, Bucks rock Nets
The AP reports: Richard Jefferson had 29 points and 10 rebounds against his former teammates and the Milwaukee Bucks snapped a season-high, five-game losing streak with a 107-78 victory over the reeling New Jersey Nets on Monday night. Charlie Villanueva added 20 points for the Bucks, who kept their slim hopes for a playoff berth alive by snapping a seven-game road losing streak and sending the Nets to their fifth straight loss, matching their season high… Chris Douglas-Roberts had 14 points and Brook Lopez added 10 points and 10 rebounds for New Jersey, which suffered its second embarrassing loss in 24 hours. Minnesota snapped a seven-game losing streak by beating the Nets on Sunday… Nets guards Vince Carter and Devin Harris sat most of the second half, combining for 19 points on 6-of-22 shooting.
Wolves snap 7-game skid with 108-99 win over Nets
The AP reports: Playing more aggressively than he has in months, Mike Miller had 22 points, 10 rebounds and five assists to help the Minnesota Timberwolves snap a seven-game losing streak with a 108-99 victory over the fading Nets on Sunday. Ryan Gomes scored 21 and Kevin Love added 16 points and 11 boards for the Timberwolves, who had lost 18 of their last 20 games. “It’s just unacceptable,” said Nets guard Vince Carter, whose 36 points and eight rebounds weren’t enough to offset New Jersey’s general malaise… Devin Harris had 19 points and five assists in his second game back from a shoulder injury for the Nets, who have lost four in a row.
Gasol scores 36 as Lakers clinch top seed in West
The AP reports: On a night that Kobe Bryant tossed up an air ball with his first shot, sprained his right ankle and finished 5-of-19 from the field, the Los Angeles Lakers still showed why they are the top playoff seed in the Western Conference. Bottom line—there’s more to the Lakers than Kobe. Pau Gasol had a season-high 36 points and 11 rebounds, and the Lakers (58-14) guaranteed the road to the Western Conference championship will run through downtown Los Angeles with a 103-95 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Friday night. “It’s just one more step toward our goal,” said Gasol, who was 14 of 19 from the field and three assists shy of a triple-double. “Now we’re just looking to the next game. We still have three games left on the road trip.”
Nets bench Yi Jianlian
New Jersey Nets forward Yi Jianlian has played fairly awful basketball for a long time now. Coach Lawrence Frank is finally taking action. The Bergen Record (Al Iannazzone) reports (via blog):
Lawrence Frank announced this morning that Ryan Anderson will start at power forward for Yi Jianlian tonight against the Lakers.
And, the New York Post (Fred Kerber) reports (via blog):
Since returning from a broken pinkie, Yi has played 18 games and done squat: one double figure scoring game; pretty much one game (Portland) where he noticeably defended; 6.0 scoring average and .357 shooting over the 18. “Too much hesitation,” Yi said, admitting his confidence is somewhere between the sub-basement and Hell. “Yeah it’s hard for me right now. I know what happening. I must just be professional and keep doing my stuff, doing my thing.”
The Nets are weak at both forward spots, and changes need to be made this summer.
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