Wow. After a game like that one, all I say manage to say is wow. In yet another thrilling Nets-Heat matchup, Brooklyn came out with the win after a last-second monster LeBron James dunk attempt for the lead was blocked aside by Mason Plumlee, who was amazing tonight.
Brooklyn played very well early on, going up by at least 13 points in the first half at one point. However, as they undoubtedly were going to, the Heat forced themselves right back in the game, taking the lead in the third quarter and at least for a few minutes, appeared to have a serious chance to run away with this game.
Still, though, as good teams do, the Nets hung around and kept hitting huge shots–Marcus Thornton’s four threes especially–to keep them within striking distance of Miami. Alan Anderson contributed with some big, contested jumpers and of course Paul Pierce, The Truth, came through with an enormous longball with 8:12 left in regulation to put Brooklyn up 72-69.
Miami would storm right back though, regaining the lead and holding it until later on, when Thornton hit his fourth and final three-pointer at the 1:40 mark to give the Nets a 84-82 advantage that they wouldn’t relinquish.
The three was just part of a larger 9-2 Nets run that ended up putting the game out of reach for the Heat, who certainly made it close with a LeBron and-1 and a Chris Bosh dunk to bring them within one point. Then Joe Johnson missed an isolation three, which gave Miami the ball, down just a single point, with nine ticks to go.
Needing a hoop, of course LeBron ended up getting the ball from Rashard Lewis and went right to the basket for what would have been a game-winning jam. However, Plumlee got in the way, barely tipping the ball as LeBron went for the dunk, forcing him to miss. Thornton got the ball and ran out the remaining few seconds as a dejected Heat team and American Airlines Arena watched the Nets celebrate a win against them for the fourth time this season.
By the way, according to Elias, the 2013-14 Nets are the first team to compile a 4-0 season series sweep against a LeBron James-led team in his entire career. That’s pretty darn remarkable.
Some other observations I had from the game: First off, Mason Plumlee may have only scored eight points and grabbed eight rebounds in this game, but his three blocks were all huge, but none more than his final one, which might be the block of the year. Just a few minutes earlier, Mase dunked right over LeBron, contributing to the very lead he preserved with his well-timed swat. He’s been a revelation for the frontcourt-challenged Nets in just his rookie campaign….Joe Johnson scored a game-high 19 points, and although he was just 1-of-4 from three, he made some insanely-difficult shots with the shot clock expiring right over LeBron and other defenders in the second half. When his shot is on, Joe cannot be guarded, and at a lot of points tonight, he was exactly that….Kevin Garnett (rest from back spasms) and Andray Blatche (illness) both didn’t play, which limited Brooklyn’s rotational flexibility. Still, the play of Plumlee and Mirza Teletovic (11 points on eight shots) made it okay. Also, Brooklyn managed to do something rare: rebound its opponent. The Nets are 4-0 in outrebounding the Heat this season and are coincidentally 4-0 in beating them as well. Maybe not a coincidence actually….Thornton was 6-for-8 from the field (4-for-5 from three) and scoring 16 points on the evening, to go with six rebounds and four steals. Overall, a great game from him off the bench and he gave the Nets the spark they needed.
Looking Ahead
The Nets are right back at it tomorrow night in Orlando to play the Magic. Kevin Garnett will start and play for Brooklyn.
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