Nets fall to Oklahoma City Thunder, 84-74, in first of three straight games - The Star-Ledger - NJ.com

Jim O'Connor/US PresswireThunder power forward Serge Ibaka gets a slam dunk during the first half against New Jersey Nets power forward Kris Humphries at the Prudential Center.

The Oklahoma City Thunder came into Newark tonight bringing in the baggage of a loss to the NBA’s worst team in their most recent game. The expectation was that the Nets were ill-served by being the wrong team at the wrong time to draw the team with the Western Conference’s best record. No one was oblivious to that.

“It's tough, and hopefully we step up to that challenge,” Deron Williams said before the game. “We know that they're going to be ready to play because they just lost to Washington the other day. A lot of times when you play good teams after a bad loss it's not good for you, because they come out really focused. So we have to be ready to match that.”

In that light, the Nets’ 84-74 defeat at the hands of Thunder can be put into a different perspective. They were not the victim of a stamped by Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and company but were kept at a competitive distance all game long by Oklahoma City.

That was one of the few bright spots for the Nets, other than the first quarter theatrics put on by MarShon Brooks. The rookie, though, would hardly be heard from after that as he finished with 14 points. Deron Williams scored 14 points but on 5-of-18 shooting. Kris Humphries did have a double-double with 12 points and 16 rebounds.

But in the first of three straight games that will continue today with the Charlotte Bobcats, then a trip to the Chicago Bulls, owners of the NBA’s best record, the Nets fell flat.

Westbrook and Durant led the way for Oklahoma City, with 21 points and 20 points, respectively as they created a cushion too large to overcome. Durant also grabbed 15 rebounds.

The Nets went into the half, already down in double-digits as they fell behind in a 48-35 hole. There were certainly highlights, but those were outweighed by overall inability to stop the Thunder’s star duo and falling behind early.

Avery Johnson put emphasis on the first quarter as a barometer but at the end of it, they were already down 28-18.

“I don’t think they’ll be too happy about their last performance,” Johnson said of the Thunder. “For us, hopefully we’ll have a lot of energy. I think the key for us is the first quarter. PJ Carlisimo, my assistant, was talking this morning not so much about what the score is but how close we are.”

MarShon Brooks scored eight points in the first quarter alone, riveting the Prudential Center crowd. He finished over Thunder center Kendrick Perkins and drew a foul, though he missed the free throw. On the next possession Brooks set up Kris Humphries for a layup with a behind the back pass in transition. He then finished off his burst to start the game with a floater in the lane as he accounted for 10 of the Nets’ first 12 points.

Humphries also had a banner first half, grabbing a double-double by half with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Four of those came on the offensive glass as he was provided many opportunities with the Nets shooting 32.6 percent for the first two quarters.

Yet, as good as those two were, Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook were better for the Thunder.

Durant scored 12 points in the first quarter alone and finished with 14 points and seven rebounds in the half. He pick-pocketed Brooks at midcourt in the second quarter and finished with a dunk for his only points of that quarter.

Westbrook scored 11 points in the half, with those two enough to buoy Oklahoma City. Backing up the praise he earned earlier in the day.

“Early on he had a lot of attributes which showerd that he could be a really outstanding point guard in this league,” Johnson said. “I know there were questions whether he was a one or a two.. Right now he’s a terrific one but he can play some two. If you look at the guars that have played on our World Championship teams and Olympic teams, they are guys that are versatile. That can handle the ball, shoot the ball, pass the basketball, defend. Guys like Deron and Westbrook, Derrick Rose and Chris Paul. THat’s why they’re the elite at their positions.”

The Thunder received contributions elsewhere as well. Serge Ibaka blocked Deron Williams at the rim on a dunk attempt with a high-impact play. It was one of his four blocks in the half.

Mike Vorkunov: mvorkunov@starledger.com; twitter.com/Mike_Vorkunov