Home NBA Notes: Brooklyn Nets @ Atlanta Hawks at the O2 Arena, London

Notes: Brooklyn Nets @ Atlanta Hawks at the O2 Arena, London

For the second year running, the NBA’s trip to London for their annual regular season game ended in a blowout. The Brooklyn Nets prevailed 127-110 over the Atlanta Hawks at the O2 Arena.

Atlanta’s Kyle Korver had to wait until the fourth quarter to keep his three-point streak alive but for him it’s now 108 not out, as he keeps his record going. He hadn’t got much to drop otherwise, his fourth quarter effort ended up being his sole points total. The crowd though erupted when he drained it from the corner, and for Korver himself: relief as soon as the shot dropped. This means a lot to him.

Another topic was the light-hearted pre-game press conference that outgoing NBA Commissioner David Stern gave to the media present. And when Stern was asked whether a regular season contest would be staged in other countries where, as the journalist described “basketball is more popular”, Stern gave his answer, looked at Adam Silver, set to become Commissioner on February 1 and joked: “This is fun. I can promise everything here.”

During the press conference, Stern had a playful dig at Milan’s Mediolanum Forum, which set to play host to this year’s Euroleague Final Four. While not meaning it in the direction of the Euroleague, Stern, answering the question whether Italy can stage a regular season game, ahead of London laughed it off.

“Italy … These are difficult times and so for us to appear, it’s problematic. And the O2 [Arena] is a spectacular building,” Stern said. “The last time we played in Italy it was in the Forum, and I think the Forum might almost be as old as I am, and it looks it.”

One of the final topics answered was that soon-to-be NBA Commissioner Adam Silver will indeed name a new Deputy at some point as part of NBA bylaws and that things will certainly be different without Stern. The league, however, will keep going as normal.

The game itself from the second quarter onwards was a near forgone conclusion. Brooklyn executed better, shared the basketball and took better shots. Former Atlanta Hawks star Joe Johnson led all scorers with 28 points for the Nets as they continue their good run of form in 2014.

They edged the first quarter 31-27 as both teams reflected their offensive game early on by running the floor, but after the first 12 minutes had been played, Brooklyn calmed themselves down and found better shots. The victors shot 58 percent from the field and 59 percent from three-land land.

The Hawks are just over .500 at 20-19 despite the loss. Shelvin Mack and Mike Scott led Atlanta with 17 points each.

Former Olympiacos forward Pero Antic is enjoying a starting role in Atlanta. He hit 11 points and grabbed five rebounds.

“I’m enjoying being in the starting five, it shows coach [Budenholzer] has confidence in me and I am working hard to keep my place,” Antic said.

Former Laboral Kutxa star Mirza Teletovic hit 9 points, while ex-CSKA Moscow player Andrei Kirilenko added 4 points and 4 rebounds.

Exit mobile version