Pistons 99 - 103 Nets
Final
  for this game

Nets ready themselves for playoffs with Pistons in town

Apr 17, 2013 - 2:27 PM

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(Sports Network) - The Brooklyn Nets are the fourth seed in the Eastern Conference, just waiting to know their opponent, but in the mean time, they will close the regular season with a home tilt against the Detroit Pistons.

The Nets will face either the Atlanta Hawks, or the Chicago Bulls in the first round of the playoffs. The Hawks and Bulls are tied, but the Bulls own the season tiebreaker over Atlanta.

The Hawks finish the regular season with a road trip to Madison Square Garden against a New York Knicks team that won't play many regulars. Chicago hosts the Washington Wizards on Wednesday.

Brooklyn rested most of its key players Monday night in a 106-101 victory at home over the Wizards. Deron Williams, Brook Lopez, Joe Johnson and Reggie Evans all sat out Monday, but seven Nets scored in double figures.

The Nets came back in the fourth quarter for the win.

Kris Humphries and Andray Blatche paced the Nets with 20 points apiece and rookie Tornike Shengelia, who played 67 minutes all season, came off the bench with a double-double of 11 points and 11 rebounds.

"It's all about opportunity," Blatche said. "I felt a lot of the young guys showed they belong in the league."

The Pistons are closing out the campaign on a high note. Their 109-101 victory Monday at home against the Philadelphia 76ers was their fourth in a row.

"These games still count and it was what team could put together a couple stops, what team could limit a second shot here or there just to get enough separation," said Pistons coach Lawrence Frank.

The Pistons trailed by three at the half, but turned it on in the third quarter and won the frame, 33-21.

Greg Monroe was awesome on Monday with 27 points on 10-for-14 shooting and 16 rebounds. He registered his 36th double-double of the season, which ties him for ninth in the NBA.

"You want the fans to leave with a good view of you," said Monroe. "I think we did a good job of that. We thank the fans for their support the whole year and we need to continue to do it."

Will Bynum scored 22 off the bench. Kyle Singler, Brandon Knight and Khris Middleton all scored in double digits.

The Nets have won all three meetings this season and are 5-1 in their last six as the host in this series.






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