Johnson shines as Nets edge out the Knicks

22 January 2013 09:16

Joe Johnson scored 25 points and drained the go-ahead basket with 22.3 seconds left Monday as the Brooklyn Nets beat the New York Knicks 88-85 to earn a split of the season series between the cross-town rivals.

Deron Williams scored 14 points and handed out 12 assists and Brook Lopez scored 14 with 11 rebounds for the Nets, who moved within one game of the Knicks atop the Eastern Conference's Atlantic Division.

The Nets, who moved from New Jersey and opened for business in the New York City borough of Brooklyn this season, improved to 11-2 under coach P.J. Carlesimo and split their four regular-season games against Manhattan institution the Knicks 2-2.

Carmelo Anthony scored a game-high 29 points and handed out seven assists. But Anthony was off-target with a potential go-ahead basket late in the fourth quarter.

J.R. Smith added 16 points and Amare Stoudemire scored 15 for the Knicks, who have lost four of their last six games.

The game was tied at 75-75 early in the fourth quarter when Johnson launched exploded to score eight points to two from the Knicks.

The Knicks responded with a 7-0 burst to take an 84-83 lead with 40.9 seconds left.

Johnson's pull-up jump shot restored Brooklyn's one-point lead.

After a timeout, Anthony caught a pass on the right and drove to the basket but missed his shot with the Nets grabbing the rebound.

The nets stretched it to 88-85 before Smith's three-point attempt at the buzzer missed.

Source: DSG