Nets 110, Rockets 105
NEW YORK -- Forward Joe Johnson scored 15 of his 22 points during the fourth quarter, and the Brooklyn Nets held on for a 110-105 victory over the Houston Rockets on Tuesday night.
Johnson hit nine of 15 shots while also collecting eight assists and five rebounds on a night when the Nets (6-15) held a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter. He also was part of a defensive effort that held Rockets star guard James Harden to 10 points on 2-of-9 shooting.
Center Brook Lopez led the Nets with 24 points, and forward Thaddeus Young added 20 and 12 rebounds. The duo each scored 20 points in the same game for the second time this year, and they went a combined 19-for-27 from the floor.
Former Nets forward Marcus Thornton led the Rockets with a season-high 32 points, scoring 17 in the fourth quarter. Guard Corey Brewer added 22, playing 34 minutes after starting forward Trevor Ariza injured his back early in the game on a collision near the rim.
Harden was held under 20 points for the first time in 11 games, ending the third-longest streak of his career. He made his first shot early on but missed his next six attempts before hitting a 3-pointer with 3:24 remaining in the game.
Harden's second basket cut the Nets' lead to 99-94, but on the next possession, Johnson glided past Harden and executed a spinning floater with 2:59 left.
The Rockets were within 103-99 about a minute later when Howard hit a layup before missing the 3-pointer.
The visitors appeared poised to get even closer when Lopez was called for an offensive foul. Houston could not capitalize, though, as Thornton missed a 3-point attempt near the Nets' bench.
Brooklyn scored on its next two possessions as guard Bojan Bogadanovic converted a layup with 1:29 left and Johnson drove past Brewer for a basket and foul shot 28 seconds later.
The outcome was still in doubt, and Houston crept closer after Thornton stole the ball from Johnson. Harden drove to the hoop and was fouled. He spilt a pair at the line with 35.7 seconds left.
On the next possession, Bogdanovic missed a corner 3-pointer as the shot clock expired, but Lopez grabbed the rebound and guard Jarrett Jack knocked down two free throws with eight seconds left. The game ended when Harden misfired badly on a 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining.
NOTES: The Nets did not release an official timetable for G Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's return from right ankle surgery. However, when mentioning how hard it would be for the rookie to catch up upon returning, coach Lionel Hollins hinted Hollis-Jefferson would be back in 10 weeks. ... Hollis-Jefferson will have his surgery performed by Dr. Martin O'Malley at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan. O'Malley did the foot operations on Brooklyn C Brook Lopez and Oklahoma City F Kevin Durant. ... Houston C Dwight Howard turned 30 Tuesday and played on his birthday for the fifth time in his career. ... Howard also is expected to play Wednesday night in Washington though with reduced minutes on the second night of a back-to-back.