D.J. Augustin scored 15 of his 21 points in
the second half, as the Bobcats rallied from a horrendous opening 24 minutes
for a 79-68 win over the New Jersey Nets.
Gerald Wallace posted 24 points, a career-best 20 rebounds and four steals for
the Bobcats, who shot just 19 percent (8-of-42) in the first half, but then
outscored the Nets, 46-27, in the last two quarters. New Jersey was held
without a point for a 10-minute stretch in the second half, a span when the
Bobcats went on a 24-0 run.
Boris Diaw added 14 points for Charlotte, which was coming off a 90-79 loss at
Cleveland Saturday night.
Chris Douglas-Roberts scored 20 for the Nets, who are winless after four games
this season. It was a horrific second half for New Jersey, which went 11-of-35
from the field over the last two periods. That included just seven points in
the third quarter.
Brook Lopez ended with 18 points, Courtney Lee 13 and Terrence Williams 11 for
the Nets, who lost for just the second time all-time in Charlotte against the
Bobcats (8-2). New Jersey committed 26 turnovers, leading to 28 Charlotte
points.
Yi Jianlian's one free throw extended New Jersey's lead to 48-39 with 6:41
left in the third quarter, but the Nets then hit a rut offensively, a huge
pothole. Charlotte scored the final 14 points of the quarter, moving ahead on
a Diaw layup and opening a 53-48 lead after the stanza on a pair of Augustin
free throws.
Diaw's layup pushed the lead to 63-48 less than three minutes into the fourth.
A Douglas-Roberts layup finally broke New Jersey's scoring drought, but the
Nets never got closer than nine points in the last quarter.
It was a game that was expected to be low-scoring considering the Bobcats
posted a franchise-low 59 in a loss at Boston last week. The teams combined
for just 24 first-quarter points with New Jersey holding a four-point edge
after 12 minutes.
The Nets extended their lead to 14 points, at 33-19, with about four minutes
left in the second quarter following a jam from Lee. Charlotte was within
41-33 at the half.
Game Notes
Yi suffered a sprained right knee in the second half...Nets guard Devin Harris
missed his second straight game with a groin injury...The Bobcats went 1-of-15
from three-point range...Charlotte had 19 offensive rebounds and held a 51-33
overall edge on the glass...The Nets finished 37.3 percent from the field.
©2009 Sports Network. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
