Oklahoma City, OK – Joe Johnson, Brook Lopez and the Brooklyn Nets got out to a fast start and held off a late Thunder run to snap Oklahoma City's lengthy home winning streak in a 110-93 decision on Wednesday.
Johnson made five of Brooklyn's nine 3-pointers and netted a season-high 33 points, while Lopez added 25 points in putting an end to the Nets' seven-game skid against the Thunder.
Deron Williams totaled 19 points, 13 assists and five steals for the Nets, who improved to 3-1 under interim head coach P.J. Carlesimo.
"We showed ourselves what we're capable of doing," Carlesimo said. "This game was an excellent performance."
Oklahoma City, which had won 12 straight at Chesapeake Energy Arena, pulled even after trailing by as many as 23 in the first half, but got outscored 25-8 over the final seven minutes.
Kevin Durant led the way with 27 points, but was ejected for the first time in his career after getting hit with two technical fouls during the Nets' final push. Russell Westbrook chipped in 26 points and 10 assists, but committed six of the club's 20 turnovers.
The Thunder trailed, 61-45, at the break, but erased most of the deficit by scoring on six straight possessions late in the third quarter, as a Westbrook pull-up jumper made it a 71-68 game.
The margin was 76-72 in favor of the visitors heading to the fourth, and 3- pointers by Durant and Kevin Martin on consecutive touches tied things at 85-85 with 7:11 remaining.
A Johnson runner followed by Durant's missed 3-pointer preceded a string of six straight Nets free throws, and it was again a double-digit affair, 99-88, after a Lopez jumper with 3:04 to play.
A little over a minute later, Kendrick Perkins was whistled for an offensive foul, and a frustrated Durant uncharacteristically lost his cool when voicing his displeasure to the referee.
"I thought it was a bad call," explained Durant. "You get frustrated throughout a game, you show emotion. That's how you can tell you love it."
Williams' ensuing two free throws after the technical fouls pushed the lead to 106-90, and the Nets cruised from there.
Johnson and Lopez's combined 22 points on 9-of-11 shooting outscored the Thunder in the opening quarter, as the Nets jumped out to a 33-19 lead.
After shooting 64 percent (14-of-22) in the first frame, Brooklyn made an efficient 52 percent (11-of-21) in the second to stay in front. The biggest difference was 23 points after Johnson's deep trey made it 55-32 with 3:25 left in the half.
Game Notes
Oklahoma City had not lost at home since Nov. 14 versus Memphis ...Nets forward Gerald Wallace, who was questionable with a knee injury, played 37 minutes and scored six points ... The Nets outscored Oklahoma City at the foul line, 25-13.
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