Preseason Opener: Nets Edge Sixers in Overtime

By Matt McQueeny, NJNets.com
October 12, 2007

The Nets officially opened the preseason in Philadelphia tonight without four-fifths of their starting lineup even making the trip. As planned, Jason Kidd, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, and Nenad Krstic all stayed back in New Jersey. Unfortunately, first-round draft pick Sean Williams did not play either. The rookie was 15 minutes late for this afternoon's shoot-around and by rule was held out of tonight's game. He was in Philadelphia with the team.

"Sean - in all due respect - has been no problem whatsoever," said Head Coach Lawrence Frank before the game. "It's just the kid was late, and there's a penalty to being late."

The Nets beat the Sixers 91-90 in overtime. In 41 minutes, Bostjan Nachbar scored 35 points, on 10-of-22 from the field, went 12-for-14 from the line, and grabbed six rebounds. He also knocked down what turned out to be the game-winning free-throws with 8.8 seconds to go.

"We were down, even in overtime," said Nachbar, the hero. "In regular time we were down and it seemed like we were going to lose the game, but we came back. Even though it's the preseason, and games like this - it doesn't really matter who wins."

"I think coach liked what he saw, because we fought to the end. Darrell Armstrong said something great - he said you learn how to win in the preseason. It's a great way for us young guys and guys who are not starters to learn how to win because i'm pretty sure we're going to find ourselves in a situation where guys are going to be injured or foul out at some point."

Antoine Wright added 17 and Josh Boone scored 13 and grabbed 11 rebounds, including seven on the offensive end.

For the Sixers, Louis Williams led the way with 33 points, and had five assists, five rebounds and three steals.

"There are a lot of good things that happened," said Frank.

"Obviously the start to the game we had was tremendous. Our guys, the guys that finished the game, they played a lot of consecutive minutes...So i think there were really some positive lessons learned tonight."

Bostjan Nachbar scored the first nine Net points, and 13 in total in the first quarter, as the Nets jumped out to a 24-13 lead after one. In the second quarter, Philadelphia got back to within six (28-22) on a Rodney Carney three-pointer. But the Nets pushed it back as high as 14 (39-25) and led 40-29 at halftime. Josh Boone scored seven and boarded six - including five offensive rebounds - in the quarter.

The Nets led 57-47 after three quarters. In the third, Nachbar and Antoine Wright each had five points and Louis Williams scored nine for the Sixers.

Philadelphia shot back in the fourth, taking the lead 66-65 on a Louis Williams jumper. They pushed it to 74-69 on a Jason Smith fast-break dunk. Antoine Wright followed with a three to cut it to two. He later hit two free-throws to cut it to 75-74. Nachbar scored on a lay-up with 12 seconds left, getting the Nets back to within a point (77-76). Louis Williams went 1-of-2 from the line, and Nachbar followed back with a driving lay-up to tie it up. Louis Williams, who scored 18 in the quarter, missed on a three-pointer that would have won it. The teams headed into overtime tied 78-78.

A Louis Williams three-pointer gave Philadelphia an 83-81 lead. The Nets responded with an 8-0 run, thanks in part to two Nachbar three-pointers. Louis Williams hit on three free-throws after being fouled behind the arc by Darrell Armstrong. Derrick Byars missed a shot but stole the ball away from the rebounding Nachbar and scored on a reverse lay-up. Jason Smith then hit a turnaround jumper in the lane to give the Sixers back the lead, 90-89. The hero of the night Nachbar drove hard to lane got fouled. He knocked down both free-throws. The Sixers did not convert on an open jumper as time expired by Rodney Carney.

Nets 91, Sixers 90.

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