Porzingas and Knicks bench lead the comeback to beat the Nets

On a day when Carmelo Anthony was relegated to the bench during the fourth quarter and Derrick Rose was inactive because of an injury, the New York Knicks staged a come from behind win with the use of Kristaps Porzingas, Willy Hernangomez, and Sasha Vujacic.

Porzingas scored 19 points and 12 rebounds and 12 of his points came in the fourth quarter. Hernangomez had 16 points and 16 rebounds and Vujacic added 12 points and made team history with his effort by converting a pair of four-point plays in the game.
Anthony has had better days; he scored 15 points by the third quarter (26:39 minutes), but on 6 of 22 from the field.

“It was tough, trying to get it going and muster up some energy from somewhere,” Anthony said in a postgame locker room interview. “But our second unit and our guys that came in off the bench picked it up for us, so we liked that. Today was a big day for us to get this win, especially after coming off a back-to-back and for guys to step up – for guys like Sasha (Vujacic) who haven’t been playing that much lately to come in ready when his number was called. Billy (Hernangomez) played extremely well tonight. And then K.P. (Kristaps Porzingis) also had a great game, so for those guys to pick it up like that and get us to a victory, we needed every piece of that tonight.”

The Knicks fourth quarter push was not lost on Brooklyn Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson.

“They picked up their intensity, picked up their heat, picked up their heat on the ball,” Atkinson said during a postgame presser. “We turned it over, we didn’t get the type of shots we wanted and then I thought they started getting second and third shots. And it’s tough to give any team in the NBA multiple shots at the rim, multiple possessions, and so I think that’s the story of the game really, story of the fourth quarter – us turning it over and then not being able to control the defensive boards. ”

Brooklyn Nets center and de facto team captain, Brook Lopez, thought the Knicks made better use of their second point chances.

“They hit some big shots,” said Lopez about the Knicks. “And, I think we were working hard, they just, they definitely made a lot of opportunity off their second chances throughout the game and that was definitely the key in the last five minutes down the stretch.”

Brooklyn Nets forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson led all Nets scorers with 16 points, eight rebounds and three assists pretty much echoed Lopez’s thoughts on the outcome of the game.

“We could have done a better job of coming together, staying poised and doing what we did in the third quarter,” added Hollis-Jefferson. “I feel like there were a couple of times when I made mistakes, I mean we all made mistakes, but there are things we have to try and limit during the stretches where teams are making a run. And we can limit it from a 12-2 run to like a 4-or 6-2 run, and that’ll benefit us.”

Nets top scorers included Bojan Bogdanovic with 15 points and seven rebounds, Trevor Booker scored 12 points and eight rebounds; and Lopez and Caris LeVert each added 10 points.

The Nets fell to 9-40 overall and 7-18 at home with tonight’s loss. Next up for the Nets on Friday will be the Indiana Pacers at 7:30 p.m. at the Barclays Center.

Derrick Rose is sent to What’s The 411Sports’ Dog House for his Civil Sexual Assault Case

Forget the bench!

I'm putting NY Knicks starting guard, Derrick Rose, in the What's The 411Sports' Dog House.

With some of the details that have recently come out regarding his relationship with his accuser, Rose should be ashamed of himself.

Did New York Knicks Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the starting guard for the Brooklyn Nets?; Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton still in concussion protocol

In Episode 79 of What's The 411Sports, the panel of Keisha Wilson, Mike McDonald, and Sydney Wayman, are talking about:

Quick Bites:

Milwaukee Bucks forward Jabari Parker took the ball to the hole a little too forcefully, so the rim hit back
Carolina quarterback Cam Newton is still in concussion protocol
Legendary golfer Tiger Woods pulls out of the Safeway Open
Former Dallas Cowboys defensive end Greg Hardy is hanging up his football cleats for Mixed Martial Arts

What's Poppin'!

The return of Tom Brady after serving an NFL four-game suspension for deflated footballs
MLB Playoffs - in particular, the Chicago Cubs; can the Chicago Cubs take it all?
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick will come under center in NFL Week 6;
Not everyone can successfully make the transition from college football coaching to coaching in the NFL. So we ask the question, is the NFL a right fit for San Francisco 49ers head coach Chip Kelly?
The NFL is cracking down on all end zone dances. Has the NFL become the No Fun League?
Professional tennis player Maria Sharapova's suspension from tennis is reduced to 15 months from 24 months. Did Sharapova special treatment?
Michigan blows out the Rutgers football team 78-0, should Rutgers be in Division 1A?

What's The 411Sports New York Sports Report:

• Did New York Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony diss Jeremy Lin, the Brooklyn Nets starting guard? You be the judge.
• NY Jets Week 5 results
• NY Giants Week 5 results
• Ode to the New York Mets

IN THE DOG HOUSE:

New York knicks guard Derrick Rose for the information coming out at his sexual abuse civil trial.

Lopez led all Nets scorers with 26 points; Nets’ first and third quarter performance were key to 115-100 loss

Wednesday was the first game of the Brooklyn Nets’ 2015 NBA regular season. The first game is generally an extension of the preseason, as teams are working out the kinks and trying different schemes all while trying to outwit their opponent. Now, that’s not to say that teams are okay with losing because that is hardly the case because you always want to start off on a good note even when you are hosting the Chicago Bulls.

The Bulls finished last season 50-32 compared to the Nets’ win-loss of 38-44. The Bulls also have a team with four All-Stars: Derrick Rose; Joachim Noah; Pau Gasol; and Jimmy Butler. In fact, Rose was a perennial NBA All-Star when he was healthy in 2010 -12; he was also an NBA Rookie of the Year in 2009 and NBA MVP in 2011.

By contrast, the Brooklyn Nets only NBA All-Stars are Brook Lopez (2013) and Joe Johnson (2014).

During the first quarter last night, the Bulls played the Brooklyn Nets like the wind blows in Chicago during winter, ending the first quarter with 30 points compared to the Nets 19.

By the end of the second quarter, things looked promising for the Brooklyn Nets, as both teams finished the half shooting 56 percent. The score at the end of the second quarter was 58-55 in favor of the Bulls. However, the Nets were virtually even in points in the paint 28 vs. the Bulls’ 24; both teams had four second chance points and the Nets led the Bulls 6-4 at the half with fast break points. Nevertheless, it was the first and third quarters where the Nets just fell apart, scoring only 19 and 16 points respectively compared to the Bulls 30 and 28 points.

Brooklyn Nets center and team captain, Brook Lopez who led all Nets scorers with 26 points, seven rebounds and two assists, gave his assessment of the third quarter.

“I think it was shot selection,” Lopez said. “I rushed a few. We could have definitely made a few more swings to turn good looks into great looks.”

Lopez also praised the Nets reserves for keeping the team in the game.

“The second unit was great for us,” Lopez continued. “They came in twice and saved the game for us with their energy and effort. I’m very disappointed in myself in the first and third quarter. I don’t feel like I played well, and it hurt us.”

The Nets made an effort to finish strong tying the Bulls 29 points in the fourth quarter, it was just not enough and the Nets lost to the Bulls 115-100.

In addition to Lopez, the Nets other double-digit points leaders were Andrea Bargnani (17); Thaddeus Young (12); and Joe Johnson (10). In fact, Johnson hit a double with 10 points and 10 rebounds.

Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins weighs in on loss

“You have to make shots, you have to make lay-ups, you have to make mid-range shots, you have to make shots in the paint; 39 for 93, we didn’t make them anyway” said an exasperated Coach Hollins.

VIDEO DISCUSSION: What should be more important to Derrick Rose, the 2015-16 NBA season or the 2016 Olympics?

With USA Basketball approaching, Team USA Minicamp is the first order of business and Chicago Bull’s Derrick Rose is in decision-making mode.

Rose needs to decide whether to participate or rest and not participate. If Rose doesn’t participate, it would mean he would have to forego participating in the 2016 Olympics.

Nets Still Underachieving; Cavaliers Poised to take Round 1

The NBA playoffs are on and poppin'!!! In this segment, Glenn Gilliam and Gregory Alaca are discussing the status of primarily the Eastern Conference in Round 1: Atlanta Hawk vs. Brooklyn Nets; Cleveland Cavaliers and the Boston Celtics; and Derrick Rose of the Chicago Bulls. Lastly, the two talked about Tom Thibodeau and Scott Brooks' job security.

Joe Johnson Bewildered Over Nets Loss to Chicago

After losing in pitiful fashion to the Milwaukee Bucks, 96-73, Sunday afternoon, you would think that the Brooklyn Nets would rebound tonight against the Chicago Bulls with the playoffs on the line right?

But they didn't.

Their struggles against the young and energetic Bucks, presented itself once again hosting the Chicago Bulls, and they without a doubt paid for it.

The Nets fate was sealed early and the Bulls had their way, all game long embarrassing the basketball pride of Brooklyn, 113-86.

The Bulls improved to (49-32) on the season while the Nets dropped their second straight game, now 37-44.

With this loss, the Nets find themselves in a must-win situation on Wednesday night, hosting the lowly Orlando Magic, a team fuming off of a 100-93 loss to the Miami Heat-tonight as well.

You know Orlando will be inspired.

They are young, rebuilding and probably won't mind playing the role of spoiler in their last game of the regular season before they begin their off-season/vacation early.

As for the Nets, that inspiration seems to be lacking.

They know what's at stake.

They know what they have to do, and instead of following through on their goals they seemed destined to reach-just a few days ago- they now resemble a team questioning themselves and unsure of where they are going.

"We lost, plain and simple," Joe Johnson said post-game finishing with 12 points. "I really, honestly can't explain it. I don't even know how that's possible with this being a very important game. So, I really don't know."

A 27-point loss will do that to you, and after competing for the majority of the first half, the Nets crumbled under the defensive pressure that makes the Bulls a title contender, if Derrick Rose is well-of course, and they delivered.

The Bulls registered eight total blocks in this game. Four of those blocks occurred in the 3rd quarter.

And not only did the Bulls defend, they also provided the nail in the coffin that came a quarter early.

With the Nets down by 15, 78-63, and over two-minutes remaining in the 3rd, Bulls rookie Forward, Nikola Mirotic, exploded for three treys in the last minute and 20 seconds to improve what once was a 15-point lead to 22, entering the fourth with a very comfortable 87-65 advantage.

The Bulls never looked back from that point. It was smooth sailing and because of that, Rose, who finished with 13 points was awarded the final quarter off.

"I wanted to play, but at the same time there is nothing wrong with resting," Rose said post-game.

"Not tomorrow I'm going to shoot a little bit more to make up for the five or six minutes that I was supposed to play in the fourth quarter."

This game isn't about what the Nets failed to do, it’s a clear example of who they are not.

They're not the Bulls.

They were not picked in the pre-season as one of the favorites to win it all stemming from the Eastern Conference.

Heck they're not even the Washington Wizards.

They are a team with talent that has struggled to find a healthy level of consistency this entire season, and in the end, that might doom the Nets.

On their best days, they will tell you that they can play and hang with anybody in the league and this is true.

They have recorded wins against the Cleveland Cavaliers this season, the San Antonio Spurs, Toronto Raptors, Los Angeles Clippers, Golden State Warriors and Dallas Mavericks.

And then they have head scratching nights like tonight.

What was working for the Nets the last month and a half did not show up today.

Brook Lopez only scored 13 points on 5-11 shooting.

Brooklyn Nets center, Brook Lopez talking with the media

The Nets, as a team, compiled just 12 assists, compared to the Bulls 26 and the Nets shot 36.8% from the field opposed to the Bulls 50% from the field.

It does not sound like a recipe for success and because of that, here we are.

"We really don't have control," Johnson said post-game.

"It's in Indiana's control. We just got to look forward to Wednesday and come out and play."

And that's all they can do.

The Indiana Pacers have two games left to their season hosting the Washington Wizards on Tuesday and at the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday.

Upon hearing those final two games, you the Nets fan are already thinking loss, but here are the facts: the Wizards have already clinched their playoff berth as the fifth seed as well as the Grizzlies positioned 6th in the Western Conference.

Both of these teams don't have to play hard, but the Pacers do, aiming to make their fifth straight postseason appearance, fueled by the return of their franchise player, Paul George, now PG13.

The Nets are a half-game out of 8th place and now have to resort to prayer.

The Nets cannot look back at the fact that five Bulls scored in double-figures tonight, including Pau Gasol (22 points), Taj Gibson (15 points), Jimmy Butler (17 points), Rose (13 points) and Mirotic (26 points).

The Nets have to look towards Wednesday night as the end-all be-all and handle their business against a team nowhere near contending.

It's their Game 7, unfortunately but honestly, the Nets made it this way.

Mo'ne Davis Donates her Jersey to Baseball Hall of Fame

In this episode of What's The 411Sports, the panel of Chris Graham, Gregory Alcala, Bianca Peart and Glenn Gilliam discuss sports news and events of the week including stories that are flying under the radar.

Mo'ne Davis is in the Baseball Hall of Fame
Brooklyn Nets Media Day
NFL Week 4 Roundup: Teddy Bridgewater, Steve Smith, Kirk Cousins, RG III, Geno Smith
The Pennsylvania Legislature Unanimously Approved September 14 -20 as Taney Dragons Week
Tony Stewart Walks Away From Criminal Charges
Derek Jeter Makes His Final Appearance at Yankees Stadium
In the Doghouse (Unofficially): John Idzik, Jr. GM, New York Jets
and more...