Maybe the Brooklyn Nets need more major snowstorms to bring them a little luck.
That after Brook Lopez scored a season-high 31 points and the pride of the borough, despite being 14 point underdogs, shocked the world, and probably themselves, with a 116-106 thrashing of Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and the Oklahoma City Thunder, (33-13).
The game, which was pushed back several hours to deal with the aftermath of Saturday’s blizzard, still saw over 16,000 fans show up to see the Nets put the breaks on a five game game skid.
“I thought Brook was outstanding,” Interim Head Coach Tony Brown told reporters. “He had a big presence in the paint. We posted him. He had a lot of shots at the rim, got to the foul line. That’s the kind of showing that I’d like to see from him going forward. Be a threat in the post, dominate.”
While Lopez led the way for Brooklyn, who never trailed to Oklahoma City, the Western Conference’s third-best team, he had plenty of help as five Nets scored in double-digits in a well balanced attack.
Besides getting another workman-like contribution from Thaddeus Young, who had a game-high 14 boards, while recording 14 points for his team-leading 20th double-double, Bojan Bogdanovic contributed 18 points (7-of-12).
Lopez said the Nets (12-33) had a high level of concentration and focus heading into Sunday’s contest, but also had an effective game plan, which was to focus on getting the ball to the paint and driving to the hoop.
“It’s what we felt we had,” Lopez told reporters. “Guys played aggressive and they played with that confidence, that’s what we need to do every day.”
The game saw the Nets set a season-high for points in regulation, and a defense led by scrappy point guard Shane Larkin’s season-high matching four steals and a pair of blocks.
“That’s where I can impact the game, use my speed and quickness to make steals or get offensive rebounds,” Larkin told reporters. “Just go out there and play with energy. That’s what I can bring to the team and have to do every night.”
The Nets look to build on the big win when they return to Barclays Center tomorrow night to host Dwayne Wade and the Miami Heat. Tipoff is at 7:30 p.m.
