Johnson shines as Nets edge Bucks

Guard Joe Johnson hit the game-winner at the buzzer in overtime to lift the Brooklyn Nets to a 113-111 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

Johnson carried the Nets on his back down the stretch at the Barclays Center by nailing a 3-point shot near the end of regulation to send the game into overtime.

He shot 10-of-18 from the field and finished with 24 points for Brooklyn which snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Bucks.

Point guard Deron Williams had 19 points with nine assists as the Nets emerged from the All-Star break to earn their third-straight win.

Andray Blatche and C.J. Watson came off the bench to score 14 and 11 points respectively for the Nets in front of a crowd of 17,334.

"It's huge. When our bench comes in and plays like that, we are a tough team to beat," Johnson said.

This was Williams' first game back after missing two straight with an ankle injury. He has been one of the Nets' top scorers this season, averaging 16.7 points per game heading into Tuesday's contest.

Brook Lopez also had 19 points and nine rebounds for Brooklyn, who are 12-11 in the first game after the mid-season break dating back to the 1989-90 season.

AFP

(China Daily 02/21/2013 page23)