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Denver Nuggets at Brooklyn Nets
- Denver has won eight of the last 10 games versus Brooklyn. The last time these teams met, January 11, 2012, the then New Jersey Nets made a franchise record 20 three-pointers but still lost 123-115 at Denver.
- This will be Denver's fourth game in five days, all on the road. The Nuggets have lost two straight, losing Sunday at Boston 118-114 in triple overtime, then lost at Toronto on Tuesday 109-108. Denver has not lost three straight games since November.
- The Nets won 89-84 in overtime on Monday night at Indiana. It was just their fourth win in their last 10 games. Brooklyn has lost three of its last four games at home. Brooklyn has failed to reach 100 points in eight straight games and has not reached 100 points at the Barclays Center since January 15 versus Toronto (won 113-106).
- Ty Lawson has had back-to-back 29-point/9-assist games. He is the first Nuggets' player since Carmelo Anthony to score 29-plus points in two consecutive games (Anthony had three straight 29-plus point games from February 7-10, 2011. Since the 1985-86 season, Lawson is just the fourth different Nuggets' player to have consecutive 29-point/9-assist games: Michael Adams (two different streaks during the 1990-91 season; one was three straight games, the other two straight), Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf had two straight in 1995-96 and Allen Iverson had two straight in 2007-08.
- Anthony Randolph had a Denver Nugget career-high 16 points off the bench last night in Toronto. Randolph had scored a total of 14 points in his previous 10 games played.
- Reggie Evans had 22 rebounds in Brooklyn's win at Indiana on Monday. It was Evans' second 22-plus rebound game since January 8 (had 23 at Philadelphia on January 8). The rest of the NBA combined has two 22-plus rebound games since January 8 (Lavoy Allen -- Philadelphia & DeAndre Jordan -- LA Clippers).
By JEFF BARTL
(AP) -- The Brooklyn Nets used a team effort and some production from an unexpected source to survive their first of at least two games without Deron Williams.
They've had a difficult time with the Denver Nuggets in recent years no matter who is in uniform.
Brooklyn looks to avoid a ninth loss in the last 11 meetings Wednesday night when it hosts Denver, which hopes some key contributors will return from injury.
Williams sat out Monday's 89-84 overtime win at Indiana with inflammation in his ankles, and he'll also miss at least this contest while using the upcoming All-Star break to recover.
If his teammates play like they did Monday, the Nets (30-22) could be heading into the break on a positive note.
Brook Lopez scored 25 points, Reggie Evans grabbed 22 rebounds and rookie Tyshawn Taylor scored a season-high 12 points off the bench.
"It was great. It was a complete team game from top to bottom," Lopez said.
Joe Johnson added 17 points for Brooklyn, which had dropped three of its previous four and is averaging only 86.1 points and shooting 41.4 percent over its last seven.
"We wanted to come out tonight and make a statement," Johnson said. "We were just being very resilient. Guys were coming up big and making plays."
Taylor, whose scoreline has often read "DNP-Coach's Decision," made his case to get more playing time after playing the entire fourth quarter and overtime coming off the bench behind C.J. Watson. He played over 34 minutes after not playing more than 20 in any previous game.
"I'm happy for him," Johnson said. "A guy who comes in and works hard and gets an opportunity to play, and not only play, but play in a clutch and crucial situation, he was big for us tonight."
Taylor, a second-round draft pick who was acquired from Portland on draft night, also has spent time in the Developmental League.
"I'm confident in my game, so when coach puts me out there I just want to be aggressive," Taylor said, "It started getting down to crunch time and coach kept me in there, it just boosted my confidence."
The Nuggets will be looking to regain theirs after falling 109-108 at Toronto on Tuesday - their second straight loss after nine consecutive wins. They played, though, without Danilo Gallinari (sinus infection), Andre Iguodala (strained neck) and reserve Wilson Chandler (groin).
JaVale McGee also didn't play in the second half because of a sore left leg.
It's unclear if any of the four will be in uniform Wednesday.
Ty Lawson scored a game-high 29 points while Corey Brewer and rookie Evan Fournier combined for 15 replacing Gallinari and Iguodala, who are averaging 17.2 and 13.4 points, respectively.
"That's tough," Lawson said. "We didn't know until (earlier Tuesday) so we couldn't really plan for it."
Rudy Gay hit a jumper with less than five seconds remaining to hand another tough loss to Denver, which fell 118-114 in triple overtime Sunday.
"This one is even harder for me than Boston," coach George Karl said.
Denver, which will be concluding a four-game road trip, is averaging 113.4 points over its last 12. The Nuggets have averaged 112.2 points while winning five of the last six meetings with the Nets.
Updated February 13, 2013
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