Hornets.com postgame: Nets 101, Hornets 97
By: Jim Eichenhofer, Hornets.com, @Jim_Eichenhofer
Nets (34-24), Hornets (20-38)
It was over when… Brooklyn’s Deron Williams dropped in a pair of free throws with 1.3 seconds remaining, giving the Nets a two-possession edge at 101-97. New Orleans fell behind by as many as 22 points in the first half, rallied back to make it a game in the second half, but couldn’t quite erase its deficit. Williams (33 points) enjoyed one of his best performances of 2012-13, looking a lot like the player who was a perennial All-Star prior to injuries hampering him this season.
Hornets MVP: Greivis Vasquez authored another all-around game that has been more the rule than the exception lately, finishing with 20 points, eight rebounds, seven assists and three steals. The Hornets’ third-leading scorer this season topped the club tonight with 20 points, including eight during the fourth-quarter rally that came up a play or two shy.
Hornets Sixth Man of the Game: Like Vasquez, Ryan Anderson was an integral part of New Orleans’ furious rally in the late stages. It looked extremely bleak when Brooklyn grabbed a nine-point advantage with just over a minute left, but Anderson started firing in jumpers, causing some fans to make a U-turn and head back to their seats. The high-scoring sixth man scored seven of his 13 points in the fourth quarter.
The buzz on… Anthony Davis’ status. The rookie power forward began clutching his left shoulder after being contacted by a Brooklyn player late in the third quarter. Seeing Davis wincing noticeably for at least two trips up and down the floor, Hornets head coach Monty Williams substituted for him. It was reported by Fox Sports New Orleans sideline reporter Jennifer Hale that Davis (6 points, 4 rebounds, 21 minutes) could’ve returned to the game, but Williams opted to keep him out of action in the fourth quarter. Williams explained that when it comes to decisions on players who he perceives may be injured, Williams leans toward making sure they are not re-injured or sustain further problems. “When I'm looking at a guy holding his shoulder like that, I'm not going to put him back in,” Williams said specifically of Davis, before speaking generally about injuries. “I have to be the brains for our guys (in terms of making sure they don’t play when they shouldn’t be playing). These guys mean a lot to me. I have to err on side of caution.”