Word Surfaced Prokhorov Shopping For New Ownership for Nets

The Brooklyn Nets contributed to another loss for the eighth time in nine games when they fell short to the Washington Wizards, 99-90 at the Barclays Center Saturday night.

Paul Pierce, who played with the Nets for one year after the Brooklyn franchise failed to sign him for the 2014-2015 season, recieved a mixed welcoming from fans when he was announced in the starting lineup with the Wizards.

The Nets visited Washington last night and cut their seven-game losing streak with their 102-80 win over the Wizards. However, it was a different story when the Nets played host.

Lopez helped his team keep the game close with a half-time score of 51-50. Neither team led the entire game by five and then Brooklyn made it even at 81 early in the fourth quarter, But the Wizards' dominance, including a three point play by Nenê contributed to a loss of momentum.

Jarrett Jack was Brooklyn's leader finishing with 22 points and 8 points. Joe Johnson finished with 15 points.

"Tonight, obviously, they [were] more desperate, knowing that we went into Washington last night and got a win," Johnson said after the game. "So we knew we were going to get their best shot today, but I thought we played great. I just think down the stretch we couldn't get stops and we couldn't make shots to get us over the hump."

It seems as though the loss to Washington is the least of Brooklyn's worries. In a team where consistency, unity and rhythm still haunt them, the team now faces ownership turning its back on them. Word spread earlier this week that owner Mikhail Prokhorov is looking to sell the team.

Three years ago when the Nets moved from New Jersey to the Big Apple, Prokhorov made a plan to win a NBA title within five years. Since then, the team has struggled with four different coaches—Avery Johnson, P.J. Carlesimo, Jason Kidd and current coach Lionel Hollins. Not to mention, Johnson was fired in the middle of the season and Carlesimo, who took over was not renewed for the 2012-2013 season.

Add to ownership and coaching disruptions, rumors have also spread that Brooklyn is looking to shop its star-injury plagued players Deron Williams and Brook Lopez around.

Only time will tell when it comes to the Nets.

In general, the What's The 411Sports team feels the Washington Wizards is a good move for Paul Pierce, but it hurts Glenn Gilliam's heart to see him go.

Chris Graham was absolutely ecstatic about Pierce's move to the Wizards.

Chris sees the Washington Wizards, a team with so many players under 30 years of age, in dire need of leadership. He believes Paul Pierce is a great fit to help mentor the younger players.

Chris acknowledges that Paul Pierce has played with the Boston Celtics and Brooklyn Nets and most of all, he has championship rings.

"This was a great move for Paul," Glenn Gilliam said. "As sorry as I am to see him go, I wish he could have stayed. He gave us all excitement to go to the Barclays Center and see him play for the Brooklyn Nets. It's an unfortunate situation, but he had to make the right move for his career. This was perfect. The Wizards are a playoff caliber team; he could take them to another level."

Glenn Gilliam wondered why Paul Pierce didn't follow Doc Rivers to the Los Angeles Clippers.

Gregory Alcala thinks Pierce would not have received the attention that he is looking for with the Clippers and there is better chemistry with the Wizards.

Could it be that Doc Rivers doesn't feel real stability with the Clippers given the Donald Sterling fiasco?

VIDEO: Join the Conversation about Paul Pierce Going to the Wizards.

Following the most notable sporting event of the season in the Super Bowl, which took place in a land not too far away in the state of New Jersey; the Brooklyn Nets returned home to host the Philadelphia 76ers orchestrating a 108-102 victory on a snowy evening providing a cozy and fun-filled environment for the Brooklyn faithful.

This win progresses the Nets to 21-25 on the overall season, as they continue to work their way back to mediocrity, .500.

The Nets snapped their 3-game losing streak against a lowly opponent, all in all validating the honor that their first-year Head Coach in Jason Kidd received today in Coach of the Month, for compiling a record of 10-3 in January.

The Nets accomplished what the Broncos failed to, despite the difference in sports, circumstances and setting, a win, plain and simple.

Missing tonight's action was guard Joe Johnson suffering from tendinitis in his right patella; also C Andray Blatche, and Forward Andrei Kirilenko recorded DNP's, coach's decision. Given this scenario, the Nets needed a significant offensive contribution as thin as they appeared to be.

They received that contribution from a variety of places tonight.

From the opening tip, the Nets led throughout the majority of the first half until the 76ers reclaimed the lead for the first time this evening with 6:25 left in the second quarter, via two free-throws from 76ers guard Michael Carter Williams. This gave the Sixers a lead of 35-33 with more than 6 minutes left until halftime.

Philadelphia flashed its youth, enabling a run in which it eliminated the Nets lead early within the second quarter. However, the Nets capitalized on a back-and-forth pace later down the stretch.

An alley-oop conversion courtesy of G Shaun Livingston, assisted by F Paul Pierce and a theft by Livingston rewarding Pierce on back-to-back fast breaks pushed the Nets advantage over the Sixers, 54-49 heading into the intermission period.

The synergy established by the Nets towards the end of the first half carried over to the start of the second half as the Nets held the Sixers to within 4 points through the first four minutes.

With the increase in defensive pressure, the Nets manufactured a 13-3 run extending their lead, 67-54 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. The run, energized collectively and individually, by G Deron Williams who caught fire in the 3rd. Williams scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, as he returned back to the starting lineup.

The Nets gained their largest lead of the game by far, up by as many as 17 points, when Journey man G Jason Terry connected for three, on the right wing with 2:37 remaining till the start of the fourth. This put the home team in front 81-64.

The 4th quarter decides the outcome of each and every organized basketball game, and like any team would, the Sixers made their run.

A strong surge by rookie of the year candidate Williams and fellow youngster G Tony Wroten combined for a series of layups and perimeter shots reducing the Nets lead to 6, 97-91 with 6:15 left until the end of regulation.

A Lavoy Allen jumper assisted by Williams from the top of the key with 3:41 remaining in the 4th, brought the Sixers within 2, 97-95, to which the Nets responded by scoring 7 straight points, capped off by F Mirza Teletovic connecting for three 97-89.

The Sixers continued to fight, and exhibited their best effort in the closing moments, only to come up short and the ball bouncing the Brooklyn way.

With 40.8 seconds remaining a loose ball that the Nets failed to claim gave the Sixers life and enough time to draw up a play that left Anderson alone in the corner for which he connected for three giving the Sixers another chance down by 2 with 22.8 seconds remaining nets 104-102.

But without leverage, the Sixers were forced to foul sending Pierce to the line, which resulted in two made free-throws and 6 seconds later a steal by Livingston and foul generated the same result in two additional free throws further advancing the Nets to a final 108-102 win over the Sixers.

Even in victory, Pierce was unsatisfied like a true champion, desiring more from his fellow teammates in the future games to come.

"You can't be happy with the way we closed the game," Pierce articulated to post game media correspondents in the Nets Locker-room.

"We gave up layups, threes," Pierce continues.

"We were up 20, up 19 and let them back in the game,..If we play like that come Thursday then we can't expect to walk away with a win."

Pierce is alluding to Thursday night's contest where the Nets will continue their home-stand in welcoming the franchise spearheading the Southwest division in the San Antonio Spurs. If the Nets want a "W" against the Spurs, a complete 48 minutes of play from the Nets is essential and required to defend their home-court.

Pierce also dished in on the inspirational play of back-court teammate Livingston who contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, as well as, getting after it defensively, a pest in the passing lanes with 7 steals. Livingston has recorded back-to-back games of six or more steals a feat not accomplished by a Net since Kendall Gill in 1999.

"He's a guy who's gaining confidence week by week," Pierce expresses to the post game media

"He believes in his ability; whatever we ask of him he's given it to us," Pierce added.

With Johnson's questionable medical status Livingston will definitely receive every opportunity to fill the void offensively and defensively in the starting unit, something he is very capable of doing acknowledged by Kidd.

"He's playing at a high level and we need him to do that," said Kidd in his post-game press conference.

"He's involved and he is in tune and we need him to do that," Kidd continued.

"Right now he's on that consistent role that we need."

Williams wasn't too shabby at all with his overall performance, pouring in the second most scoring output behind Pierce's 25 with 21 points and 6 timely assists working his way back to the starting lineup where he belongs and should remain as he is the $90 million man.

For the time being, the Nets warmed up the Barclays Center despite the wrath of the winter season. But in the end, for the Nets to sustain positive production they must get healthy with any hope of locking up the Atlantic Division.

Jason Kidd pointed out that mistakes happen all the time when asked about Williams' turnover that caused the Brooklyn Nets team to walk back to their locker rooms somber and blue.

Okay. So back-pedal to the last 20 seconds of the game. Williams had just taken an offensive charge after Kyle Lowry went up for a hard layup. Brooklyn was already up 101-100. After a timeout was called, Williams attempted to throw the ball inbound. He had two choices--throw it to Paul Pierce or force a pass to Joe Johnson. Williams chose to toss it to Johnson, and Patrick Patterson stole the ball and scored.

So there you have it---the seasoned veteran (and choke artist) blew the game.

After the game, a disappointed Williams, who committed two turnovers in the final 22 seconds knew what he had done.

"I turned it over, didn't have any timeouts," Williams said. "I pretty much saw everybody was covered on the first couple of options, kind of saw Joe (Johnson) open but just made a bad pass."

"It's tough. It definitely hurts, but we got three days (before our next game) to think about it, that makes it worse. Nothing I can do now, can't take it back. It's not the first time turning the ball over to lose the game and it probably won't be my last," Williams continued.

Fans on Twitter bashed Williams for making a rookie move.

"Horrible end of the game turnover by Deron Williams....I remember when he could be mentioned with CP3....no more!"

"Kyle Lowry is a better player than Deron Williams. Turnover or not, I hope this game proved that to everybody."

The Nets' loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Nets who now fall to 10-2 in 2014, thanks to two losses against the Raptors.

Despite the loss, the team is prepared to move on and will support Williams.

"We as players and as teammates, we want to make sure that the confidence is high around here, and you just don't get that sitting in your locker by yourself," Kevin Garnett said. "We talk about the game. We talk about what each other saw, and the perspectives, and next time we're in that position, what can we do to get better? And it was a positive conversation. With Deron, we as teammates are going to support each other, and tonight was no different from that."

VIDEO: Talking with Chris Rock at the Barclays Center; he happened to attend a Brooklyn Nets game with his daughter because she loves LeBron James

Actor/comedian, Chris Rock, took a moment during half-time at the Brooklyn Nets – Miami Heat game on Friday to talk with What’s The 411SPORTS correspondent Crystal Lynn.

During NBA basketball season, Chris Rock is usually someplace else in New York City, but he brought his daughter to the Nets game because she loves LeBron James. It was the comedian’s first time in the Barclays Center and he likes it.

“I’m from Brooklyn,” Rock said in a matter of fact fashion.

With the chatter of a Brooklyn Nets – Miami Heat rivalry brewing, Rock chimed in saying he thinks it’s real.

“Oh, it’s for real, he said. “A lot of it came over from Boston really with Garnett and then Pierce, but I think it’s real. They’re going to play hard all year.”

“I wouldn’t be shocked if a brawl happens before the year is over,” laughed Rock in his comedic style.

Rock also offered his opinion on the Brooklyn Nets prospects for reaching the playoffs.

“I think they can go pretty far, it’s going to be hard to beat Miami, it’s going to be hard, Jason Terry’s old,” Rock said as if he was trying out new comedy material.

What’s in Chris Rock’s future?

“I’m getting ready to go on tour, I’m getting my stand up together, I’ll be playing this building in the fall,” he added.