NEW YORK — The Brooklyn Nets looked as if they were thinking ahead to their first matchup against the crosstown New York Knicks for the first three quarters Sunday.
Deron Williams had 15 points, 12 assists, four blocked shots and three steals, and the Nets used a run early in the fourth to break open a tie game and beat the Portland Trail Blazers 98-85 on Sunday.
Reserve forward Reggie Evans said “we didn’t have no energy, no life" until he and his teammates turned up their offensive and defensive effort in the fourth quarter just like they did on Friday night in a victory against the Los Angeles Clippers.
“It goes to show when it comes time to buckle down and get stops, we can make something happen. We just have to try to do that in the first three quarters and not just in the fourth," said Joe Johnson, who scored 21 points.
The Nets’ much talked about first game in their new home against the Knicks was postponed on opening day because of Superstorm Sandy and was rescheduled for tonight.
Kris Humphries had 14 points and 10 rebounds for Brooklyn, which was looking forward to the Knicks and a crowd that they hope will be on their side as opposed to the past few years when the teams met in New Jersey.
Brooklyn headed into the fourth quarter tied 70-all after reserve guard Marshawn Brooks’ layup with 1.7 seconds left in the third. Both teams quickly exchanged leads in the opening minutes of the final quarter before the Nets went on a 9-0 run and never looked back.
With the score tied 74-all with 8:32 remaining, Johnson found C.J. Watson open near the Portland bench for a 3-pointer that gave the Nets the lead for good with 8:14 remaining. Evans was then fouled and made a pair of free throws to make it 79-74 and after Damion Lillard lost the ball out of bounds, Evans found an open Lopez for a dunk and after Lillard missed an 18-footer, Johnson’s floater increased the lead to 83-74.
Portland’s J.J. Hickson then broke the scoreless run with a layup to cut the Nets’ lead to 83-76. Lopez answered with a shot off the glass.
“There was a sense of urgency," Nets coach Avery Johnson said. “We talked about it at halftime. I was really disappointed with our defense at halftime."
Brooklyn held Portland to 19-of-43 shooting from the field and five of 10 beyond the arc in the first half but in the fourth quarter held the Trail Blazers to only six baskets. The Blazers opened their seven-game road trip in Brooklyn.
“We kind of let it slip away in the fourth quarter. The rebounding hurt us. Brooklyn is a big physical team and that may have had an effect on us on offense late in the game," Portland coach Terry Stotts said.
The Trail Blazers were out-rebounded 48-34 by Brooklyn and had 16 turnovers, including seven in the final quarter.
Wesley Matthews scored 20 points and J.J. Hickson had 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Trail Blazers, who were without LaMarcus Aldridge. The All-Star forward was out with a stiff back.
Rookie Damion Lillard added 13 points, six rebounds and seven assists. The Blazers selected Lillard with the first-round draft pick they acquired in the Gerald Wallace trade with the Nets last spring.
“They made shots and we didn’t. I think we fought the whole game and we kept ourselves in position to win the game," Lillard said.
“To be without our best player and come to Brooklyn and then have a chance down the stretch — just to be in that position without LaMarcus says a lot about our team," he added.
Deron Williams, who again struggled with his shot, made a 3-pointer that upped the lead to 92-80 and then found Humphries for a layup to extend the lead to 94-80 with 1:57 remaining.
In other games on Sunday:
Knicks 121
Pistons 100
NEW YORK — Carmelo Anthony scored 29 points in just 32 minutes, and New York ended a two-game losing streak with a victory over Detroit. Steve Novak added a season-high 18 and J.R. Smith had 15 points and 10 rebounds for the Knicks.
Spurs 111
Raptors 106
TORONTO — Tony Parker scored six of his 32 points in the second overtime, Tim Duncan had 26 and San Antonio beat Toronto for the fourth straight time. Manu Ginobili scored 15 points, Danny Green had 13 and Boris Diaw 11 as the Spurs won their third straight and improved their NBA-best road record to 7-1.
76ers 104
Suns 101
PHILADELPHIA — Jrue Holiday had a career-high 33 points and 13 assists, leading the 76ers over the Suns. Evan Turner scored 16 points, Lavoy Allen had 11 and Thaddeus Young 10 for the 76ers, who snapped a two-game losing streak. The Sixers (8-6) haven’t dropped three in a row all season.
Celtics 116
Magic 110
ORLANDO, Fla. — Kevin Garnett had 24 points and 10 rebounds, Paul Pierce added 23 points and Rajon Rondo was one rebound shy of a triple double with 15 points and 16 assists as Boston outlasted Orlando in overtime.
Nuggets 102
Hornets 84
DENVER — Andre Iguodala scored 23 points, Kenneth Faried had his eighth double-double of the season and Denver beat struggling New Orleans.
