NBA

Johnson, Nets rally

— Deron Williams had 22 points and nine assists, Joe Johnson scored 20 points and the Brooklyn Nets rallied from 12 points down in the third quarter to beat the Indiana Pacers 97-86 Sunday night.

Brook Lopez scored 10 of his 15 points in the fourth quarter and also finished with nine rebounds to help the Nets win their season high sixth straight game.

David West had 27 points to lead the Pacers. Paul George added 15 points and 12 rebounds, and Gerald Green also scored 15 points.

Green made two free throws against his former team to give Indiana a 67-55 lead - its largest of the game - with 5 1/2 minutes remaining in the third quarter.

Brooklyn pulled to 75-69 by the end of the third, and began the fourth on a 26-8 run to take a 12-point lead on C.J. Watson’s jumper with 2:08 remaining.

In other games, Dwight Howard had 22 points and 14 rebounds in his return from a three-game absence for an injury in the Los Angeles Lakers’ 113-93 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Sunday. Kobe Bryant added 23 points for the Lakers. ... Kevin Durant had 33 points as the visiting Oklahoma City Thunder snapped the Portland Trail Blazers’ nine game winning streak with an 87-83 victory. ... Tony Parker scored 20 points to help the San Antonio Spurs win their 12th consecutive home game with a 106-88 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves. ... Carmelo Anthony scored 18 of his 27 points in the second quarter as the host New York Knicks beat the New Orleans Hornets 100-87. ... Brandon Jennings scored 19 points and had 10 assists and John Henson had 19 to help the visiting Milwaukee Bucks rally from 20 points down for a 107-96 victory over the Toronto Raptors. ... Danilo Gallinari scored 21 points, Ty Lawson had 20 and the host Denver Nuggets beat the Golden State Warriors 116-105.

Sports, Pages 17 on 01/14/2013

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