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Humphries paces Nets over Bobcats

Mar 25, 2012 - 6:03 AM Newark, NJ (Sports Network) - Kris Humphries had 20 points and 16 rebounds as the New Jersey Nets pulled away in the second half to down the Charlotte Bobcats, 102-89, at Prudential Center.

Deron Williams added 19 points and 14 assists for the Nets, who snapped a five-game losing streak. Shelden Williams contributed 10 points and 11 boards.

"Our offense was kind of flowing today and we got it done on the defensive side as well," Deron Williams said.

Byron Mullens paced the Bobcats with 17 points and 10 rebounds, while Corey Maggette netted 13 points. Kemba Walker and Reggie Williams finished with 10 apiece for Charlotte, which dropped its third straight contest and suffered its fifth loss in six games.

The Nets took control of the game early, scoring the contest's first six points as part of a quick 10-3 run and held that lead for the remainder of the game.

Charlotte responded with a 7-4 spurt to close the gap to 14-10 before the Nets reeled off a 6-0 push to run out to a double-digit lead, 20-10.

The Bobcats were then kept at arm's length for the remainder of the first until Maggette's three-pointer brought Charlotte within, 26-21, at the end of one.

After Maggette made the back end of two free throws 19 seconds into the second quarter to bring the Bobcats within four again, New Jersey used a 9-2 run to take a 35-24 lead on Jordan Farmar's trey.

The Bobcats, though, would not go away, battling back with a 10-3 spurt to make the score 38-34.

New Jersey would later stretch its lead up to 43-34 after a pair of Gerald Green free throws before Charlotte recorded eight of the final 13 points of the half to trail, 48-42, at the break.

The Nets then finally put the Bobcats away in the third quarter, holding Charlotte to just 29.4 percent shooting from the floor while connecting on 50 percent of their shots in the frame.

New Jersey opened the third with a 10-3 run to take a 58-45 advantage, and after Charlotte managed to close the gap to seven, 60-53, with a little less than five minutes remaining in the third, the Nets pulled away with a 21-5 run and held an 81-58 lead entering the fourth quarter.

The Nets cruised through the final period, leading by as much as 26 on a Farmar jumper that put New Jersey ahead by a mark of 87-61 and holding a double-digit advantage throughout the quarter.

"We were playing hard. We just need to play faster," Bobcats guard Gerald Henderson said. "We're better when we're playing faster and that's when we are going to get out points in the paint."

Game Notes

Four of New Jersey's 16 wins this season have come against the Bobcats, who have a league-worst 7-39 record...The Nets improved to 6-18 at home this season, while Charlotte fell to 3-22 on the road...New Jersey held a 46-42 advantage in the glass and outscored Charlotte in the paint, 50-34.