Nets hope to continue home domination, host Charlotte

(SportsNetwork.com) - The home of the Brooklyn Nets is named after a world leader in financial services.

The Nets have certainly cashed in lately at Barclays Center, where they will resume a three-game homestand Wednesday versus the Charlotte Bobcats.

Brooklyn has won nine in a row and 16 of its last 18 home games, including Monday's 108-95 victory over the Phoenix Suns behind 28 points from Deron Williams. Joe Johnson scored 19 points and Mile Plumlee added 14 with 11 rebounds for the Nets, winners in 24 of 34 games since Jan. 1.

"They were better than us today," Suns guard Goran Dragic said of the Nets. "We tried to battle but we didn't find energy, and when you play hard you get all the calls. They were just better in all aspects of the game."

The Nets held their eighth straight opponent at home under 100 points and last lost at home Jan. 31 to Oklahoma City. They will close the homestand Friday versus Boston.

Brooklyn has won the last 11 games and 18 of its previous 19 in which it has scored 100-plus points. It is 25-5 when reaching the century mark.

In the Eastern Conference standings, the Nets are fifth -- two games behind the Chicago Bulls.

Nets forward Kevin Garnett missed his ninth straight game due to back spasms and is 10 points shy of passing Alex English for 14th place on the all-time scoring list. He is expected to miss Wednesday's game.

Charlotte is also targeting a playoff berth and sits seventh in the East, one game ahead of Atlanta Hawks.

The Bobcats hope to get back on track after having a four-game winning streak come to an end with Monday's 97-83 loss to the Hawks. A 30-16 difference in the third quarter spoiled Charlotte's six-point halftime lead and the team made only 35 percent from the floor.

Al Jefferson had a double-double for the fourth time in five games, finishing with 16 points and 12 boards. Gerald Henderson also scored 16 points, while Kemba Walker had a team-high 20 with seven assists.

"Even when we were up, we just weren't focused," said Jefferson. "We have to learn from this game."

Charlotte, which had won six of seven games, will shoot for its third consecutive win on the road and owns a 14-20 mark as the visitor this season.

The Bobcats and Nets have split two meetings this season with each team holding serve as the host. The Nets are 9-2 in the past 11 encounters with the Bobcats and unbeaten in the last five meetings as the host.