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Nets head south to battle Heat

Mar 6, 2012 - 3:55 PM (Sports Network) - Deron Williams will try to build on a historic performance when he and the New Jersey Nets visit a star-studded Miami Heat team attempting to get back in the win column.

Williams exploded for 57 points on Sunday, marking a career-high and setting a Nets single-game record as New Jersey edged the lowly Bobcats, 104-101, in the Queen City.

Williams made 16-of-29 shots, went 21-of-21 from the free-throw line and added seven assists and six rebounds for the Nets, who were coming off Friday's loss at Boston. Kris Humphries chipped in 11 points and 13 rebounds.

"Fifty points is a big deal but if you lose and have 50 it doesn't really matter," said Williams. "I'm just glad we got the win. We needed it after that loss in Boston."

Williams did most of his damage after the break, helping the Nets erase a 53-45 halftime deficit with 22 third-quarter points. He made 5-of-9 shots in the quarter, including two three-pointers, hit 10 free throws and staked New Jersey to a 73-72 lead by the end of the frame.

"We did all we could to try and slow him down, but he just had it going on tonight," Bobcats head coach Paul Silas said about Williams.

The Nets' previous single-game scoring record was 52 points, shared by Mike Newlin (1979) and Ray Williams (1982).

The news wasn't all good for New Jersey, however. Center Brook Lopez turned his right ankle in the third quarter and his foot was placed in a walking boot as a precautionary measure. The big man is expected to miss the next three weeks of action.

Lopez. of course, already missed the first 32 games of the season with a broken bone in his right foot, and is averaging 19.2 points and 3.6 rebounds in just five games this season.

The Heat, meanwhile, opened a three-game road trip with a win in Portland before following that with consecutive losses to Utah and the Lakers.

Kobe Bryant scored 33 points on Sunday, leading the Lakers to a 93-83 win over Miami.

Bryant was still donning a protective mask as a result of a hard foul delivered by Dwyane Wade in last Sunday's All-Star game and made 14-of-23 shots.

The Heat have lost two in a row, marking just the second time this season that they have dropped consecutive games.

"These two games are a very small part of our season," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "I'm disappointed to lose, but we're going home to play three in a row. We'll be OK."

LeBron James had 25 points, 13 rebounds and seven assists in the setback, while Wade added 16 points before fouling out with 5:14 to play. Wade is questionable for Tuesday after he said he took a few shots to the head in LA. Miami was without power forward Chris Bosh for the third straight game, as he continues to deal with a death in the family.

Bosh is listed as probable for tonight and is averaging 18.4 points and 8.3 rebounds this season.

The Heat have won eight straight and 11 of 12 overall vs. the Nets, including a 101-90 win in Newark back on Jan. 7.