Nov 29: Nets 105, Jazz 88

The AP reports: Devin Harris had 34 points and six assists and the Nets beat the Jazz 105-88 on Saturday night, giving New Jersey its fourth win in five games… Vince Carter added 22 points, Yi Jianlian added 11 points and Bobby Simmons scored 10 for New Jersey, which wraps up the road trip Sunday night at Phoenix. The Nets outrebounded the Jazz, outscored them inside and prevented Utah’s fast break from getting going… Utah was without All-Star forward Carlos Boozer (thigh) for the sixth straight game and lost Andrei Kirilenko to an ankle injury in the second quarter… Paul Millsap led the Jazz with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Williams had 10 points and 13 assists and Mehmet Okur had 10 points and 11 rebounds as three Utah starters had double-doubles, but the bench contributed just 22 points and 11 rebounds.

Nov 25: Lakers 120, Nets 93

The AP reports: When Pau Gasol made his Lakers debut back in February following his trade from the Memphis Grizzlies, he led Los Angeles to a 15-point victory at New Jersey on a night when Kobe Bryant had the lowest-scoring game of his MVP campaign. Things looked eerily similar against the Nets on Tuesday night in the rematch at Staples Center. Gasol had 26 points and eight rebounds before sitting out the fourth quarter, and the defending Western Conference champions overcame Bryant’s shooting woes in a 120-93 rout that improved the NBA’s best record to 12-1… Bryant had difficulty with Vince Carter’s defense, going 5-for-17 from the field in 28 minutes and finishing with 12 points in the Lakers’ fifth straight victory… Devin Harris had 21 points and six assists for the Nets, who again played without Stromile Swift (back), Josh Boone (bruised left ankle) and Chris Douglas-Roberts (right knee strain). Eduardo Najera, who has an injured back, did not make the trip. Yi Jianlian had 13 points and nine rebounds for the Nets, who shot only 34.5 percent and went 3-for-19 in the fourth quarter while getting outscored 30-17.

Brook Lopez good as starter

The New York Post (Tim Bontemps) reports on Nets rookie center Brook Lopez: The Stanford product, who was the 10th pick in the draft in June, has seen his production increase dramatically since a promotion to the starting lineup. After averaging a bit over four points and five rebounds a game as a reserve, Lopez’s averages have jumped up to 14.6 points and nine rebounds as a starter over the past five games. “He had a couple games coming off the bench where he was struggling a little bit,” Frank said. “I think getting in the role of a starter kind of got his confidence back in the right direction, and I think he’s been very, very consistent. You don’t necessarily have to play through him and he still gets those numbers.”

Nov 22: Nets 112, Clippers 95

The AP reports: Yi Jianlian had a season-high 27 points, and Vince Carter added 26 to help the New Jersey Nets beat the short-handed Los Angeles Clippers 112-95 on Saturday night. Devin Harris had 18 points and 10 assists, and Brook Lopez finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. Bobby Simmons had 11 points as every Nets starter hit for double figures and New Jersey got its fourth win in the last five games. It was an odd shooting night for the Nets, who went 11-for-19 from 3-point range but were only 25-for-39 from the free-throw line. Baron Davis had 30 points and 10 assists for the Clippers (2-11). Marcus Camby added 18 points and 13 rebounds, and Al Thornton had 18 points.

Nov 18: Cavs 106, Nets 82

The AP reports: With free agency awaiting him in 2010, LeBron James put on a show for the New York metropolitan area and its deep-pocket teams highlighted by length-of-the court sprint to block a dunk by Devin Harris. James had 31 points, eight rebounds and four assists in another dominating performance and the Cleveland Cavaliers rolled to their eighth straight win with a 106-82 decision over the New Jersey Nets on Tuesday night… Mo Williams had 8 of 16 points and five of his six assists in the final 24 minutes, while Delonte West scored 14 of his 16 points, hitting all four of his 3-pointers in the decisive third quarter when Cleveland broke the game open… Devin Harris, who was looking for his fourth straight 30-point game, had 23 points to lead New Jersey. Vince Carter added 12, shooting 3-of-12 from the field as the Nets’ two-game winning streak was snapped.

Nov 15: Nets 119, Hawks 107

The AP reports: Devin Harris’ confidence is soaring, just like his scoring.  Harris scored 33 points, Vince Carter had 29 and the New Jersey Nets beat the Atlanta Hawks 119-107 on Saturday night, completing a sweep of the two-day, home-and-home series… The Nets made 55 percent of their shots from the field (38 of 69) and set a season high in scoring for the second straight night… Joe Johnson scored 31 points for Atlanta, which has lost three straight after a 6-0 start. The Hawks played their fifth straight game without forward Josh Smith, who has a sprained left ankle. Center Zaza Pachulia was held out with a sore left shoulder… Marvin Williams and Flip Murray each had 14 points and Horford added 12.

Nov 14: Nets 115, Hawks 108

The AP reports: Back in the lineup after missing three games because of a sprained left ankle, Devin Harris scored 30 points to lead the New Jersey Nets to a 115-108 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Friday night. The Nets also got career-best nights from rookies Brook Lopez (25 points), and Ryan Anderson (15). Vince Carter had 26, many coming down the stretch to help the Nets end a three-game losing streak, that not coincidentally, started when Harris headed to the sidelines… The Hawks, who opened the season with six straight wins, have lost two in a row. Joe Johnson scored 30 of his game-high 32 in the second half. Marvin Williams and Flip Murray each had 21 points.

Barclays stands behind Brooklyn Nets

Barclays, a leading global financial services company and the naming rights partner for the future Barclays Center, today affirmed its commitment to the future arena in Brooklyn and the updated timeline for a 2009 groundbreaking. The Barclays Center, which is designed by Frank Gehry, will be the world-class home of the Nets.

“Barclays is unwavering in its commitment to the Barclays Center and we are very pleased with our long-term alliance with our great partners, the Nets and Forest City Ratner Companies (FCRC),” said Gerard LaRocca, Chief Administrative Officer, Americas, at Barclays Capital, the investment banking division of Barclays PLC. “We are very excited about being part of the continued renaissance of Brooklyn and we eagerly look forward to opening night at the Barclays Center.”

“Since we announced our 20-year naming rights partnership in January 2007, Barclays has offered nothing but resolute and great support,” Nets Chief Executive Officer Brett Yormark said. “We deeply appreciate our partnership with such a well-respected and distinguished company, which shares our love for Brooklyn and our strong sense of community.”

“We are thrilled to have Barclays as a partner,” said Bruce Ratner, chairman and CEO of Forest City Ratner Companies, a subsidiary of Forest City Enterprises, Inc., and the chairman of Nets Sports and Entertainment, LLC, which owns the Nets. “The Barclays Center will be one of the most spectacular sports and entertainment arenas in the world.  Even more importantly, it is a centerpiece of a development that will bring thousands of jobs and affordable housing units to Brooklyn.” Forest City Enterprises (NYSE: FCEA and FCEB) has an equity interest in Nets Sports and Entertainment.

In addition to its naming rights commitment, Barclays continues to play a major role as the co-lead in the financing of the Barclays Center. Momentum for the Barclays Center continued recently when the Internal Revenue Service issued a new regulation that confirms that tax exempt bonds may be used to finance the arena.

The multifaceted partnership among Barclays, the Nets, and FCRC includes the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance, which invests $1 million per year in local non-profits that work to improve the lives of young people in Brooklyn and surrounding communities through sports and other activities, including education and health care. Last month, the Barclays/Nets Community Alliance unveiled a new playground at Public School 19 in the Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, which marked the first of eight Brooklyn playgrounds that the Alliance will fund with a grant to Out2Play, Inc., a non-profit dedicated to building and refurbishing playgrounds throughout the New York City public school system.

Nov 12: Pacers 98, Nets 87

The AP reports: T.J. Ford had 18 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and the banged-up Indiana Pacers won their third straight game with a 98-87 victory over the New Jersey Nets on Wednesday night. Marquis Daniels and Jeff Foster added 16 points apiece as the Pacers beat the Nets for the second time in three games. Vince Carter scored 28 points and Jarvis Hayes added 15 for the Nets, who lost their third straight game with point guard Devin Harris sidelined with a sprained ankle. New Jersey turned the ball over 18 times, leading to 25 points for Indiana.

Nets helping unemployed fans

In the midst of this challenging economy, the Nets will give unemployed fans a break by providing free tickets for five select Nets home games, as well as offering résumé placement with Nets sponsors, and providing access to a Career Fair.

As part of the new Nets Employment Program, fans that are seeking jobs can sign-up at www.njnets.com and should email their résumé, former employer, contact information, and career field of interest to the Nets Job Bank at jobbank@njnets.com. The Nets would then release 300 tickets per game on a first-come, first-serve basis for fans that enroll in the Program. In addition, the team would send the résumés received to Nets sponsors and season ticket holders with businesses that are involved in the Program.

The Nets are also hosting a Career Fair before their game against the Los Angeles Clippers at the IZOD CENTER on Saturday, November 22.  Job-seekers will gain access to many top employers featuring sports teams, businesses, and Nets partners such as UPS, Haier America, TD Bank, Emblem Health, Coca-Cola Enterprises, and Valley Health System.

“Unemployment is on the rise in the metropolitan area, so we want to offer our fans that are between jobs some help in finding a job, as well as a chance to relieve some stress by coming to a Nets game,” said Nets CEO Brett Yormark.  “We are committed to investing in our fans now, and hopefully they will invest in us when times are better.”