With a 13-point halftime lead and 57 points already on the board, the Brooklyn Nets probably felt comfortable that Tuesday's game against the Utah Jazz was well in hand. Unfortunately for the Nets, they forgot to show up in the second half to put it away.
Jazz vs. Nets 2012 results: Utah rallies past Brooklyn, 92-90
Utah put the clamps on Brooklyn defensively in the second half, rallying from a double-digit deficit to beat the Nets at Barclays Center.
USA TODAY Sports
Thanks to just 32 points after the break, Brooklyn blew its double-digit lead over Utah en route to a 92-90 loss at home. It’s the team’s seventh loss in its last nine games, and fifth in its last six home contests. For the Jazz, the win broke a two-game losing skid and started their four-game East Coast road trip off on the right foot.
It looked like the Nets were going to run away with Tuesday's game, as Joe Johnson paced Brooklyn to a 57-44 first-half advantage. Johnson had 12 points, and Gerald Wallace added 11. But in the second half, Utah slowly but surely closed the gap. The Jazz outscored the Nets in the third quarter by nine, then grabbed the lead for good with under six minutes left on a Mo Williams three-pointer to make it 82-80, Utah. The Nets didn't make a shot in the final three minutes, scoring just four points on four free throws, and missed a game-winning three and game-tying jumper in the last five seconds.
Johnson led the Nets with 21 points, and Deron Williams, playing against his old team, chipped in 14 points and five assists. Wallace had 11 points, but went scoreless in the second half. For the Jazz, Williams was the top scorer with 19 points and six rebounds. Al Jefferson double-doubled with 16 points and 11 boards, and former Nets first-round pick Derrick Favors scored 13 points off the bench.
Utah will continue its road trip with a game in Indiana on Dec. 19. Brooklyn will renew its budding rivalry with the Knicks in Madison Square Garden on that same night.
See More:
