Bogdanovic Scores a Team-high 28 Points

You can relax Brooklyn Nets fans, you’re in!

Your team made the playoffs.

At the expense of an up-and-down year, injuries and not having the pleasure of controlling their own fate, the Brooklyn Nets qualified for the 2015 NBA Playoffs, which is more than we can say about the other team across the river.

But we won't go there, these are happy times and with the Nets 101-88 win over the young and restless Orlando Magic, the home-team has given life to the Barclays Center for two more home games, and more, if necessary.

The Nets improved to (38-44) to complete their 2015 campaign, while the Magic fell to (25-57), another trip to the lottery.

And this feat only came into fruition when the Indiana Pacers, scheduled to play two hours before the Nets tip-offed against the Magic, challenged the Memphis Grizzlies and failed to mirror the same result, losing 95-83.

As far as the Nets are concerned and their faithful fans, it's not the ideal method you would've liked for your team to make the playoffs but you'll take it.

They did what they were supposed to do and that was simply handle their business against a team they were expected to beat.

It didn't look that way early on in this contest.

The Magic held minimal leads in the first half of this regular season finale and even led by ten in the third quarter, 65-55 with 8:22 remaining.

At that point, the Nets seemed to turn the tables and made one final push, run towards saving their season which favored their efforts.

An increase in defensive pressure forced missed shots an allowed the Nets to generate a 10-3 run, courtesy of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Jarrett Jack and Bojan Boganovic which cut the deficit to three, a 68-65 Magic lead with 5:41 left in the 3rd.

More of the same would continue for the Nets to end the third, in which they tied the game at 75 all, into the 4th quarter where other Nets-not mentioned above, had their moments in contributing to the win.

Mason Plumlee, off of an offensive rebound, converted the go-ahead basket at 81-80 with 9:33 left in the 4th, giving the Nets their first lead of the night since their brief 33-32 lead-midway through the 2nd quarter.

Then Joe Johnson responded to a made layup by Magic big-man, Nikola Vucevic, regaining the lead on a running jump-shot, 83-82 at the nine minute mark.

Brooklyn Nets shotting guard, Joe Johnson

The game, at this juncture in time, reached that moment where the next-5 minutes would decide the victor, and fortunately for the Nets and the 17,098 fans in attendance, they executed during that stretch and out-shot the competition.

Thaddeus Young chipped in five points, followed by treys via Johnson and Bogdanovic and before you knew it, the Nets were up 98-86 with three minutes remaining in the 4th quarter, providing relief among the fans and especially their head coach, Lionel Hollins.

Brooklyn Nets power forward, Thaddeus Young

"I am just thankful that our guys stepped up and did what they had to do," said Hollins during his post-game press conference. "That is the only thing that they had control of, was going out there. I thought that this was a big team win."

And it was.

I mentioned various names who played an integral role in this game because they all mattered.

Five players for the Nets finished in double-figures, featuring: 16 points by both Johnson and Young, 14 from Brook Lopez, 10 by Williams and a team-high 28 points by Bogdanovic, including four of eight from three-point range.

"It's a nice feeling to get a career high but it's not most important thing for us," said Bogdanovic post-game. "We have to wait for the other game to be in the playoffs. And I hope that (Indiana win) doesn't happen."

I think the most important thing that didn't happen was the Magic playing spoiler, a team who had nothing to play for.

Those teams, lottery projected teams, pose the biggest threat to teams who aspire to make the playoffs, and last night, the Nets survived a dominating performance inside by Vucevic and another piece of the Magic's future in Victor Oladipo's 19 points.

"I thought we did a good job of fighting, did a good job of keeping ourselves in the game," Oladipo said post-game. "Now we just gotta work hard, you know, get better, so we can make big plays down the stretch in fourth quarters."

Andrew Nicholson even showed his versatility for the away team, knocking down a deuce of threes en route to 18 points.

The Magic, a team rebuilding for a better future has a crop of respectable young talent and potential stars on their roster who will contribute to the star-power very soon, and because of that, Oladipo didn't dwell on the negatives, like the loss and the struggles of this season alone but the light at the end of the tunnel.

"I think we have great attributes to our team, great players," Oladipo said. "...Individually (we) just have to get better and as a team, collectively, as well. It's going to be a big summer for us, a big offseason."

Hey Nets fans, remember when your team mirrored this year’s Magic, three years ago?

Just kidding.

With the Nets win, they improved to 6-0 on the season against the Magic at the Barclays Center, in addition to finishing the month of April, 5-4, which proved to be the most crucial stat presently.

The Nets will challenge the Atlanta Hawks in the first round of the NBA Playoffs, which begins this Saturday.

And this starts a whole new holiday for me personally (April 18th-start of the NBA Playoffs).

As much as an achievement that is, the Nets haven't fared to well against the no.1 seed in the Eastern Conference this season, the Hawks, also-known-as the second team to 60+ wins in the NBA.

They don't have the blueprint to beat the Hawks, losing all four match-ups against the ATL this year and in close games.

This isn't the Western Conference where 12 teams can legitimately challenge the no.1 seed, the Golden State Warriors in a seven-game-series.

This is the same Eastern Conference that, in the pre-season, led me to believe that the New York Knicks could actually have an admirable season.

We all know what happened there and unlike the Knicks play this regular season, the Nets will have to give it their all, and then some.

The advantage the Nets have on their side going into the post-season is the fact that it’s a blank slate.

Everyone starts fresh and its 0-0 all.

What happened in the regular season no longer factors into the immediate future, a tournament style format which provides rest periods.

The Nets have a chance like everybody else to upset the Hawks and like coach Hollins said in his post-game press conference, the Nets will have to figure out what the Hawks fail to do well and capitalize on it.

And like all of Brooklyn, we are hoping the Nets can find a way to seize four more games, starting this weekend.

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.

Brook Lopez’s Hot Shooting Gave the Nets a Comfortable Lead Early

According to SBNation.com's Bullets Forever, Washington Wizards guard John Wall will sit out tonight vs. the Nets recording his second straight DNP in their last trip to NYC for this 2014-15 NBA regular season.

From the report, the main reason for Wall sitting out is to rest, something the team as a whole agrees with and also it being most of Wall's decision.

Translation: the Nets get a break tonight.

The Wizards can still hold their own, but fortunately for the Nets, they don't have to deal with the speed demon that is Wall, one of the better point guards in the NBA.

And it showed, especially early.

Wall's presence from the Wizards lineup was obvious and the Nets took advantage, fairly handling the capital’s team in a 117-80 win in front of a sellout crowd.

The Nets improved to 37-42 on the season while the Wizards, locked in as the 5th seed, had their four-game winning streak snapped, now 45-34.

With three-games left on the season, it’s important that the Nets are playing well heading towards the postseason, continuing to win especially nursing a one game lead over the Indiana Pacers, who are in pursuit of the 8th and final spot.

And tonight, they put forth an effort that can only benefit them in the immediate future.

The Nets attacked early and often and due to the hot shooting of Brook Lopez, who scored 14 of his team high 26 points in the 1st quarter, the Nets were able to build a comfortable lead, heading into the second up by 17+ points, 31-14.

Fortunately for the Nets, their hot start would carry them throughout the entire game.

Outside of the first 3 minutes of the game, the Nets never trailed during tonight's contest and actually had the luxury of coasting midway into the 4th quarter.

This is the NBA, and when down by double-digits or any extensive leads, teams will make a run like the Wizards did tonight and what’s impressive about this win, in particular, is the fact that the Nets negated every and any attempt made by the Wizards to compete.
With the Nets up by 16, 54-38, beginning the 3rd quarter, Wizards Bradley Beal and Marcin Gortat strung together a couple of shots, consecutively including two treys from Beal which cut the Nets lead to ten, up 56-46 which forced a Nets timeout at the 9:57 mark.

The Nets responded by going on a 10-2 run, in less than two minutes, starring Deron Williams, who finished with a near double-double with nine points and nine assists and Bojan Bodanovic (22 points, final box) who both scored all ten points, shooting back-to-back threes and buckets near the cup, now up 66-48, at the 7:58 mark that resulted in a Wizards timeout.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard, Bojan Bodanovic

"We knew that they were going to make a run eventually so we just had to keep fighting throughout the game," Lopez said.

But they weren't done.

The Wizards found themselves in position to threaten a Nets home win, cutting that 18-point deficit down to ten later in the quarter, a comeback led by Gortat who scored eight points in the final five minutes of the 3rd quarter, within reaching distance, down 72-62 with two minutes remaining in the quarter.

To which the Nets responded with a 13-0 run to begin the 4th quarter featuring three's by Jarrett Jack, who finished with a solid 14 points and Bogdanovic, collectively scoring 11 total points which contributed to the Nets building a more than comfortable lead, up 26 with nine minutes left till the end of regulation.

Brooklyn Nets guard, Jarrett Jack

"We had some good shots, but once we got in a hole, it's tough to fight back," said former Net Paul Pierce, post-game.

Washington Wizards forward, Paul Pierce, talking to the media

The Nets dominated their opponent tonight, a Wizards team that looked rather uninterested in this match-up with their fates sealed as the 5th seed and their star player, Wall sitting out.

Even still, the Nets earned this win comfortably.

It gave Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins the ability to play Darius Morris, Jerome Jordan and Earl Clark who might not otherwise get the opportunity to play once the playoffs arrive.

And to his credit, as well as the team, every player available received minutes and scored.

The Nets had 29 assists in this game opposed to the Wizards 23 which was much to the delight to the home team's head coach.

"Obviously it's easier for everybody when we do share the ball, but we're cutting better, we're reading what we're doing better, we're sharing the ball and playing together better-everything is just better," said Hollins, upbeat during his post-game press conference.

You can tell that Hollins and his players are on the same page especially when his players are expressing the same views, just down the hall in the locker-room.

"We got out early, moved the ball well, and played great D," Brook said post-game.

Aside from their offensive explosion, the Nets, like Brook said played great on the defensive end forcing 17 turnovers and excelling with theft, totaling 10 steals.

"I thought, defensively, just allowed everybody to kind of get in a groove and get in a rhythm," Nets guard Jarrett Jack said following the game.

"I think it's easy when we're not allowing teams to shoot a high percentage, it allows us to flow that much better on the offensive end."

The Nets have been making it look easy for a little over a month now.

The team is peaking at the right time, and with the playoffs starting next weekend, the Nets are exactly where they want to be.

The Nets have three games left in the 2014-15 NBA season and as far as their playoff standing which isn't guaranteed, the Nets should aim to end this season 40-42.

"Well, if we don't keep it going, we'll be at home," Hollins said regarding the Nets position.

"If we keep it going, we'll be in the playoffs. We win out, we're in."

It’s that simple.

Brooklyn Nets are on a Tear; Knicks Tanking, and Steve Nash is Retiring

What's The 411Sports hosts Glenn Gilliam and Gregory Alcala are discussing New York basketbal in the run-up to the NBA playoffs and Steve Nash's retirement.

Steve Nash, a Canadian born in South Africa, played in the National Basketball Association for the Phoenix Suns, Dallas Mavericks, the Phoenix Suns again, and lastly with the Los Angeles Lakers. An outstanding point guard, Nash, was an eight-time NBA All-Star and a two-time recipient of the NBA Most Valuable Player Award.

Lopez Leaves Horford Open Allowing the Go-Ahead Basket; Prokhorov Not Selling Team

Early Wednesday morning, Atlanta Hawks players Pero Antic and Thabo Sefolosha were arrested for obstruction of justice by the NYPD, in association with Indiana Pacers Chris Copeland, who is recovering from a stabbing incident outside of 1 Oak nightclub in Chelsea.

Later that day, the Hawks were scheduled to visit the Brooklyn Nets after routing the Phoenix Suns, the previous day, 96-69.

Even without two players that have helped the Hawks clinch the no.1 seed in the Eastern Conference, the remaining group of players posed a viable threat to the Nets, in terms of preventing the Nets from securing their sixth consecutive home win.

And tonight, that's exactly what happened.

The Hawks outlasted the Nets 114-111, executing late in the 4th quarter to seal their 59th win of the season.

With the win, the Hawks are in position to be the second team in the NBA to reach 60+ wins, now (59-19) on the season, while the Nets fell to (36-42).

To the Nets credit they were in this game and put themselves in a position to win.

Their play tonight reflected how their 2014-15 season has played out thus far, with 5 games left in the regular season.

This year, the Nets have battled injuries to their core players, Deron Williams and Brook Lopez, and have found a way to remain competitive enough to make the playoffs, even as a low seed.

Tonight, the Nets battled back from numerous double-digit leads through-out the game and gave themselves, as well as, the sellout crowd of 17,732 in attendance, the chance for a home victory.

In the first quarter, the Nets found themselves down 28-17, a run in which five Hawks: Dennis Schroder, Mike Muscala, DeMarre Carroll, Al Horford and Mike Scott all made a contribution.

In the second, the Nets closed the gap that the Hawks generated in the first quarter, after a Bojan Bogdanovic layup +1 got the Nets to within one, down 47-46 with 4:41 left. It didn’t take long for an increased defensive stretch by the Hawks to lead to three fast break dunks courtesy of Scott and Horford, in addition to Jeff Teague attacking the rim which put the Hawks back up by ten, 59-49 around the 2-minute mark.

"We got some open looks and made some big shots, and our defense got some steals to add to the break," Teague said following the win en route to a double-double 15 points and 12 assists in addition to four steals.

More of the same would continue in the third where the Nets fell behind by as many as 14 points late in the third, with the 4th and final quarter within the horizon, the quarter where the Nets would have to make their final bid for the win and they did.

They presented a strong bid but in the end, not big enough to upend a team in position to win its first conference title since 1961 and fifth in franchise history.

With the Nets down one with 1:38 to go till the end of regulation, a missed three-point attempt by Jarrett Jack allowed Brook Lopez, who was in position, three attempts at seizing the offensive rebound and converting the basket, all of 7-feet tall.

Brooklyn Nets guard, Jarrett Jack

Lopez (26 points,10 rebounds) would miss three tip-ins, in point blank range, of course-thwarted by a gang of Hawks who zeroed in on the action, and the final opportunity grabbed by Thaddeus Young led to no avail, as he would miss his attempt to play hero.

But instead, Williams who contributed a double-double in 10 points and 13 assists, became the hero, at least for a moment.

Williams converted a driving, off the glass floater, giving the Nets a one point lead, 111-110 forcing a Hawks timeout with 33.5 seconds to go.

Here, the Hawks showed why they are the no.1 seed and it only comes down to one important fact: they executed.

In the next possession, the Hawks ran a curl play for probably the most feared shooter and three-point specialist in the league, Kyle Korver, who received the inbound pass.

Korver noticed the extra help from the Nets particularly, Lopez who left Horford open and in the end, the Nets suffered the consequences as Korver found the big-man who quietly dunked, scoring his easiest two of the game giving his Hawks the go-ahead basket, up 112-111.

"I was just kind of reacting, and I was expecting Kyle to shoot the ball," Horford said, scoring a team-high 24 points, following the win.

"Kyle just made a great read."

It’s what the good teams do.

They win even when their backs are against the wall and unfortunately for the Nets, this loss meant the Hawks won the season series between the two, 4-0.

If you like moral victories, the Nets lost this game by the lowest margin (3) opposed to the other three contest, which were all routs like last weekend’s 131-99 nightmare, and Williams shed light on that fact.

"It's not really a moral victory," Williams said post-game.

Brooklyn Nets guard, Deron Williams

"I guess it is good because we pretty much got blown out by them every game before this one. It's a game we definitely wanted. It's a little disappointing how we started the game but we did finish well and we had our chances."

They did and with this loss, the Hawks came in and halted the momentum the Nets have been gathering over the past couple of weeks.

"I think it’s a good team win in a tough environment on the road," Hawks Head Coach Mike Budenholzer told the media, post-game. "You need to have some close games, you need to be tested and a lot of credit to Brooklyn for how they played. We feel fortunate to get a good win on the road."

But a pat on the back won't do.

The Nets should have and could have won this game but that won't settle the unrest within the team's collective psyche.

This would've been a great win in proving to themselves that they can beat the best team in the east and now the Nets are left wondering whether or not they even have a shot against this team if they were to meet in the first round of the playoffs starting next weekend.

The 0-4 season sweep by the Hawks does not offer confidence, and this loss drops the Nets back to the 8th and final spot, only a game ahead of the Indiana Pacers (35-43), who just received their star, Paul George, back from the compound fracture he suffered during the Las Vegas scrimmage this past summer for Team USA.

The Nets have four games left in the season.

This Friday, they will host the Washington Wizards, travel to Milwaukee to take on the Bucks on Sunday and then finish the season hosting the Chicago Bulls on Monday and the Orlando Magic on Wednesday.

The Nets can't look ahead or to any of the teams aiming for their spot.

They have to handle their business because if not, owner Mikhail Prokhorov, who addressed the media before tip-off will.

"I will do my best in order to find the opportunity to reach our common goal," Prokhorov expressed when asked about the team’s future.

"You know that if you analyze a championship team, 20 percent of it is draft picks and 80 percent are trades. So now we have talent, and I am sure that our front office is good enough and have a great eye to find some balance in order to improve our team if we need."

Sounds like somebody who means business.

Joe Johnson Provided the 3-Point Dagger with 15 seconds to go in the fourth quarter en route to 21 points

Until the end of this season, every game the Brooklyn Nets play will feature the same overall theme: the race for 8th.

With nine games left in the regular season excluding tonight's game-hosting the Indiana Pacers, the Nets playoff chances are still very much up in the air.

In yesterday's 116-104 win against the Charlotte Hornets, the Boston Celtics moved back into 8th place, which the Nets enjoyed for a day, following their win on Sunday vs. the Los Angeles Lakers, which was nice for the time being.

This essentially means the Nets still have work to do, which basically means the Nets have to continue winning.

And tonight, that's exactly what the Nets did: win.

Behind the strong play of Brook Lopez, once again, scoring a team high 24 points, grabbing 11 rebounds, his 14th double-double of the season, the Nets claimed victory over the Indiana Pacers, 111-106 for their fourth straight win.

Brooklyn Nets center, Brook Lopez

The Nets improved to (33-40) with nine games left in the season while the Pacers fell to (32-42).

Before tonight's contest, I caught up with Pacer's center Roy Hibbert (7 points) about his approach towards his 1-on-1 match-up with Lopez, to which he was nonchalant about.

"Gonna go out there and give it my best," Hibbert said during the pre-game media availability period.

"It's a tough match-up because he scores really well, so Imma have my hands full the whole way."

And that's exactly the night Hibbert fore-saw which became a reality.

Lopez scored 14 of his 24 points in the first half and continued his strong play which has contributed to the Nets winning six of their last seven games when Lopez scores 20+.

"I think the ball has just been moving really freely the past number of games," Lopez said post-game.

"You can see everyone is really comfortable on the court, and we have been gelling and playing well together."

Fortunately for the Nets, tonight's outcome wasn't just about Lopez.

He wasn't the only player that made headlines.

This was an all-team performance, where contributions were generously dispersed from several members of the Nets cast tonight.

Deron Williams looks like he has his boogie back, and was a pest during the first quarter.

Brooklyn Nets guard, Deron Williams

He did a little of everything, scoring eight of his total 11 points, finding his teammates for five assists, two steals and was pretty much the main catalyst who sparked the Nets’ early run in the first quarter, pinning the Pacers up against the wall, as the Nets entered the second quarter up 33-15.

"I'm just trying to get guys the ball, run the offense and do whatever I can," Williams said post-game.

Joe Johnson can be counted on for 20+ points a game and timely shooting, as he provided the dagger tonight, giving the Nets an eight point-lead, up 108-100, on a corner three, with 15 seconds to go in the fourth quarter en route to 21 points.

"...If there is one guy you want open at the end of the game, that is the guy, and they left him open," Lopez said, regarding the three-point shot he assisted to Johnson.

Alan Anderson was very effective throughout this game and knocked down two three's in the third-quarter, scoring 20 points by games-end, pacing the Nets, as the Pacers made their run to come-back from their early 1st-half deficit.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Alan Anderson

Jarrett Jack is proving to be incapable of having a bad game, even in limited minutes, scoring 13 points along with four assists in 18 minutes of play and rookie Markel Brown is making the most of his time on the floor with his perimeter defense and shooting, scoring 10 points.

Brooklyn Nets guard, Jarret Jack

These individual performances strung together as a group has the Nets peaking at the right time, gaining confidence as they prepare to enter a tough April schedule for the final push towards the playoffs.

The operative word here is together, and Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins acknowledged that this has been the most together the team has been all season.

And it’s showing in their play as the Nets totaled 16 assists.

"When we play the way we are playing, we're sharing the ball," Hollins said.

Hollins even mentioned that guys care about one another now, and if they didn't earlier in the season, they definitely picked the right time to share the love.

This was the type of the game the Nets would've lost maybe two months ago.

The NBA is full of runs and after the Nets lost their early advantage, the Nets would've found a way to lose this game in the closing minutes.

But this is a different team.

George Hills’ 28 points didn't matter nor did three double-digit scoring outputs by Luis Scola, C.J. Watson and rookie Damjan Rudez.

The Nets are in a different space.

Instead of folding it in and quitting on games, the Nets found a way to execute late in the game where it was most necessary to do so and that is what post-season basketball is all about.

If the Nets continue doing what they are doing, they will find themselves exactly where they want to be, even if it means a first round exit, just kidding.

Up next, the Nets will travel to the city to take on the woeful New York Knicks which should be a guaranteed win.

All in all, this team realizes the moment, and it’s not just one player or two, it’s a collective mindset.

"...We hold our destiny in our hands, so it is up to us," Anderson said following the win.

"We have, I think, nine games now. We control that so we just have to take it game by game. We have a tough one tomorrow on the road against the Knicks and we just have to go from there."

Brook Lopez Puts On Another Great Show With 20 Points and 9 Rebounds

The Brooklyn Nets are a half-game out of the 8th and final playoff spot, currently occupied by the Boston Celtics, and tied with the Indiana Pacers.

Excluding Friday night's game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, who look primed for a title run, the Nets have 12 games left until the end of the regular-season.

Due to their current position, every game is important for the Nets with wins as the only option, and the results of their last contest helped.

The Nets returned home from a one-game road trip defeating the Charlotte Hornets, 91-88, thanks in large part to Brook Lopez (34 points, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 3 blocks vs. Hornets) who is playing some of the best basketball of his season, averaging 30.7 points in his last four games.

As for the Cavs, Lebron James and Kyrie Irving are leading a team that has clinched a playoff berth (47-26), currently enjoying a four-game winning streak, which includes a win against the Nets in a rout, 117-92, last Wednesday.

Fortunately for the Nets, they were able to put forth the effort necessary to achieve their revenge.

Behind another strong game from Lopez and healthy contributions courtesy of Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Johnson, the Nets defeated the Cavs, for a change, behind what seemed like a capacity crowd, 106-98.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guards Bojan Bogdanovic and Joe Johnson

The Nets improved to (31-40) while the Cavs, who's four-game winning streak snapped, regressed to (47-27) on the season.

Now how much of this game is a result of the Cavs clinching their playoff spot remains to be seen, but what the Nets achieved is exactly what they have to do if they indeed want to compete in serious spring basketball.

And that's take advantage.

A win is a win and at this point of the season, the Nets do not have the luxury of playing down or up to any opponent, like the Cavs can.

Surprisingly the Cavs were unable to put the Nets away as the home team went neck and neck with the visitors for the majority of the game but early in the fourth quarter, the Nets capitalized on the opportunities they were given in keeping the Cavs out of the winners circle.

In the 4th quarter, with the game hanging in the balance at the 6:08 mark, Bogdanovic converted a 12-foot jump-shot which gave the Nets a five-point lead, 92-87.

After six straight made free throws, courtesy of Johnson and Lopez (4), that improved the Nets lead to seven, 98-91, Irving got to the line and cut the deficit to six with two made free throws, in an attempt to spark a late Cavs comeback.

But Johnson had other thoughts and sealed the Nets fate with one shot.

After the aforementioned free-throws by Irving, Johnson, with the shot-clock expiring pulled up from 26' feet, beyond three-point range, knocking down the dagger, which enhanced the Nets lead by eight, up 101-93.

"It felt good," Johnson said reflecting on the deep three-pointer.

"I wasn't sure that it was going in but it felt good."

Good enough to provide the Nets with breathing room.

Good enough to seal the win.

But let's be honest here.

This wasn't the Cavs; this was the Cavs post clinching their playoff berth.

I was waiting for the Cavs to make that run, a run filled with highlights featuring the likes of LeBron (24 points, 9 assists), Love (18 points), Irving (26 points) and other key players that would impose their will on defense and string to get a series of baskets that would suck the life out of the Nets only to the benefit of the crowd and guys sporting red from Cleveland.

It never came.

In other words, the Cavs didn't come to play, they were uninterested in this competition and it showed through the duration of yesterday's affair.

Just ask Cavs Head Coach David Blatt.

"I don't feel like we played like ourselves today and we paid for it," Blatt said postgame. "We’re still not at the finish line. We have to refocus our attention immediately to get on track."

The Cavs are only 2.5 games ahead of the Chicago Bulls who are also streaking, winning four of their last five games (44-29).

And looking at the remaining schedules of both squads it seems as though the Cavs have a rougher road to end the season than the Bulls, but who cares.

This is about the Nets right?

Regarding the positives of this game, Brook Lopez, for the fifth straight game, was among the Nets top scorers, continuing his strong play inside en-route to a near double-double in 20 points and 9 rebounds.

Johnson shot 50% from the field chipping in 20 like Lopez.

Bogdanovic did not disappoint scoring 18.

Alan Anderson, who reminded everyone during the postgame locker-room media availability period that his alma-mater, Michigan State was playing, supplied a healthy scoring out-put in 13 points and Jarrett Jack in a little over 25 minutes poured in 16 and 5 assists.

Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Alan Anderson (l) and guard Jarrett Jack

In other words, the Nets had five players in double-figures which is the recipe to win your share of games in the NBA, but the under the radar performance award goes to Earl Clark.

The former Louisville Cardinal, who most recently played in China for the Shandong Flaming Bulls, signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Friday and immediately announced himself when he entered the game in the 3rd quarter.

In the final seven minutes to close the 3rd quarter, Clark went 3 of 4 from the field which included one three, netting seven points in his Nets debut.

"The reality was, after he made the shot, I decided to just let him go," Nets Head Coach Lionel Hollins said during his post-game press-conference. "I didn't feel comfortable at first watching him, and then after he made the shot, he looked comfortable, and then he did something on the defensive end, and then I said, come on back out, and let him have some time."

With Mirza Teletovic and Sergey Karasev both out for the season with their respective ailments, Clark will be given an ample amount of opportunities to prove himself in earning a permanent roster spot.

And honestly, if the Nets need Clark, that's a problem.

All in all, the Nets won whether the Cavs wanted to play or not, and I cannot stress enough how important it is for the Nets to put forth a winning effort until April 15th.

"At this point for us every game is important," Johnson said.

"We know what is at stake for us and that is more important than anybody that we are playing against," said Jack.

"We've talked about it a lot lately, what every game means to us, so this was a big win for us," said Deron Williams.

At least the Nets are aware and focused on the task at hand.

The Nets next opponent is the Los Angeles Lakers also at home on Sunday, March 29, with a 3:30 p.m. tip-off.

"We can't take them lightly," Williams said post-game.

"They've won some ball games, have a lot of young guys that are hungry to get out there and play and show they belong in this league. We can't look past anybody."