Joe Johnson's 22 points and Gerald Wallace's 14 points, six assists and nine rebounds helped the Brooklyn Nets top the Philadelphia 76ers 95-92.
The 76ers were trailing by eight points at one stage late on, but made a late run in the final minute, before falling three points short. Deron Williams, who added 16 points and six rebounds, considered the Nets victory important to boost his team's morale.
"We definitely needed it. We just needed to get back in the winning track, especially in our building. It was good for us tonight," Williams said.
"We put in a couple of new sets which were old sets that we ran the last couple of years, that we hadn't put in this year. It was a little more continuity.
"We just went over it and kind of worked on it and it was good for us tonight. We got some good looks out of it. We got to the back side of plays and got some open shots."
For the 76ers, the top scorer Jrue Holiday added 24 points, nine assists and grabbed six rebounds. Thadeus Young scored 18 points and chipped in with 10 rebounds and Evan Turner had 15 points and seven rebounds.
"We got off to a good start, up 12-4. Brooklyn hit us with a 20-5 run which knocked us back and also Joe Johnson's close to the third quarter. I just spoke to our guys about finishing quarters and who is the most dangerous man on the floor," Sixers coach Doug Collins said.
"Those are mistakes you can't make when you're on the road. As long as I'm the coach, our guys are going to fight back. If they don't then they'd have to get another coach."
The Nets were leading 43-41 in the first half. In the third quarter the Nets again outscored the 76ers 26-23.
Holiday shot from behind the three-point arc with 19.1 seconds remaining in the game to reduce the lead to 91-87.
Williams' two free throws and Turner's layup brought the score to 94-92. At the end Johnson had a free throw to help the Nets ice the game.
"I thought we played today with a lot more intensity. I thought we had a lot more fun. We talked about it in practice the other day, had a great practice and it came over to the game," Johnson said.
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