Nets try to even series with Hawks
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
(SportsNetwork.com) - The Brooklyn Nets will try to even their series with the top-seeded Atlanta Hawks Monday night when Game 4 takes place at the Barclays Center.
The Nets, the worst team record-wise in the postseason, cut their first-round series to a 2-1 deficit Saturday thanks to a 91-83 home victory in Game 3.
Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young and Joe Johnson all recorded double-doubles, and each scored six points during a pivotal 18-0 tear that bridged the third and fourth quarters and propelled the Nets to a crucial win after dropping the series' first two games in Atlanta.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Lopez finished with 22 points and 13 rebounds, Young bounced back from a two- point effort in Wednesday's Game 2 by posting 18 points and 11 boards and Bojan Bogdanovic added 19 points for Brooklyn. Johnson contributed 16 points and 10 rebounds.
The top-seeded Hawks managed to overcome a 15-point first-quarter deficit to briefly move ahead in the third, but were ultimately done in by a wretched shooting display. Atlanta made just 6-of-30 attempts from 3-point range and ended 35.6 percent overall.
"I thought our defense, especially down the stretch, was outstanding," Nets head coach Lionel Hollins stated.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Kyle Korver, the Hawks' top scorer through the first two games, was held to a mere two points on a 1-of-8 success rate, while Al Horford was 3-of-12 from the floor in a seven-point performance.
"We missed a lot of bunnies, a lot of open looks that we usually make," Hawks forward Paul Millsap said. "Maybe it's a lack of focus. I didn't think (the Nets) did anything special. But give them credit."
DeMarre Carroll did register a playoff career-high 22 points for Atlanta, with Millsap tallying 18 points and 17 rebounds in defeat.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Atlanta appeared to have overcome its offensive woes after putting together an 11-0 sequence that staked the Hawks to a 62-58 lead with under three minutes remaining in the third quarter. However, the Nets countered that run and then some.
Young answered with six consecutive points and Johnson drained a triple that put Brooklyn up 67-62 at the end of the third. Johnson then began the fourth with a 3-point play that preceded three straight buckets from Lopez, the last extending the Nets' margin to 76-62 with 8:53 to play.
"The biggest thing was just keeping our composure, not letting (losing the lead) get to us," said Young. "We knew they were going to make a run, we knew they were going to try to come back."
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}
Though the Hawks, who went scoreless for more than seven minutes during the fateful stretch, scored the next six points to get within eight, they could never make a sustained push the rest of the way.
Game 5 is on tap Wednesday back in Atlanta.