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Nets outlast Pistons

Feb 2, 2012 - 5:18 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Deron Williams scored 26 points and dished out nine assists, carrying the short-handed Nets over the road-weary Pistons, 99-96, at Prudential Center.

Kris Humphries added 18 points and eight rebounds, and Jordan Farmar chipped in 15 points for the Nets, who won despite dressing only eight players.

"We knew it was going to be a tough game for us with the lack of bodies," said Williams, who also noted this was the Pistons' third game in as many days.

Tayshaun Prince and Greg Monroe each netted 21 points to pace Detroit, which dropped its seventh straight and fell to 1-12 as the visitor this season.

The Nets took a tenuous 72-71 lead into the fourth quarter but never trailed over the final 12 minutes.

A pair of Humphries free throws broke an 88-88 tie with 5:22 remaining, and Williams drained a three-pointer on the next possession.

New Jersey stayed in front even though the outcome was still in question until the final buzzer.

Keith Bogans, who signed with the Nets earlier Wednesday, missed a reverse layup with under a minute left, and Jonas Jerebko swished a baseline jumper to pull Detroit within 98-96 with 41.9 seconds remaining.

Humphries grabbed an offensive rebound at the other end but was tied up by Monroe for a jump ball. Detroit gained possession with 17.8 seconds remaining and called timeout.

Prince had a chance to tie it, but missed a fadeaway from the left wing with Shawne Williams' hand in his face. Sundiata Gaines made 1-of-2 free throws to keep it a one possession game, but Brandon Knight hit all iron on a straightaway three-point try at the buzzer sounded.

"It felt good, but it didn't go in," Knight said. "I would have liked to have been a little more open."

After playing to a 23-23 tie in the first, the Nets ended the second frame on a 13-5 run to take a 49-38 lead into the break. Shawne Williams scored all 11 of his points in the second.

Monroe bookended a 14-4 run late in the third quarter with a pair of buckets inside, cutting the deficit to 66-64.

Game Notes

Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank coached the Nets from 2004 until early on in the 2009-10 season...Detroit has lost four straight and six of its last seven at New Jersey...Knight and Jerebko scored 15 and 14 points, respectively, in defeat...New Jersey won the battle on the glass, 44-31.