The Brooklyn Nets clinched a play-off spot by defeating the Houston Rockets to extend their home win streak, getting 32 points from Joe Johnson in a 105-96 win Tuesday.
Johnson shot 13-of-21 from the field and drained four-of-eight three pointers for the Nets, who set a franchise record with their 14th straight home win at the Barclays Center arena.
“We felt very resilient,” Johnson said. “The guys stepped up and made plays. We had a lot of wide open shots.”
The Nets won 13 consecutive home games twice in the 2001/02 season.
Brooklyn improved to 40-33 on the season and wrapped up a berth in the Eastern Conference play-offs. The Nets reached a low point on December 31, falling to 10-21 to start the 2013/14 NBA season, which had them well outside the play-off picture.
Since then, though, Brooklyn have gone 30-12 to not only storm into the play-offs, but to move within 1.5 games of the Toronto Raptors at the top of the Atlantic Division. Overtaking Toronto would deliver them the Eastern Conference’s third seed in the play-offs.
Shaun Livingston tallied 17 points and six rebounds and Deron Williams added 12 points for the Nets on Tuesday, who have won three straight and seven of the last nine.
James Harden sunk all 16 of his shots from the free throw line and finished with 26 points for Houston, who have lost back-to-back games after winning five straight.
Omer Asik finished with 12 points and 23 rebounds in place of Dwight Howard, who sat out with a left ankle sprain.
Chandler Parsons had 16 points, eight rebounds and four helpers for Houston, who were not only missing Howard but also Patrick Beverley with a knee injury.
Howard should be back before the end of the season.
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