Nothin' But Nets
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Brooklyn Nets: 25 greatest individual games in team history

By Phil Watson

CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 4: Deron Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets takes a foul shot during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 4, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images)
CHARLOTTE, NC - MARCH 4: Deron Williams #8 of the New Jersey Nets takes a foul shot during the game against the Charlotte Bobcats at Time Warner Cable Arena on March 4, 2012 in Charlotte, North Carolina. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2012 NBAE (Photo by Kent Smith/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Brooklyn Nets
LANDOVER, MD – CIRCA 1978: John Williamson #23 of the New Jersey Nets dribbles the ball against the Washington Bullets during an NBA basketball game circa 1978 at the Capital Centre in Landover, Maryland. Williamson played for the Nets from 1977-80. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

15. John Williamson at Indiana Pacers, April 4, 1978

John Williamson began his pro basketball career with the ABA’s New York Nets in 1973 and played with them for parts of four seasons before he was traded to the Indiana Pacers in February 1977.

Less than a year later, after butting heads repeatedly with Indiana coach Slick Leonard, Williams was traded back to the Nets, who had relocated to New Jersey.

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When the Nets returned to Indianapolis for the first time since the trade, Williamson had his chance to show Leonard what he was missing.

Neither team had much to play for — New Jersey came in at 23-55, long since eliminated from playoff contention, as were the 30-49 Pacers.

Williamson came in hot, scoring 40 points two nights earlier at Atlanta, and kept up the good vibrations against Leonard and the Pacers.

He ended the night, a 129-121 New Jersey win, with a career-high 50 points, while his replacement with Indiana, journeyman Earl Tatum, tallied 15.

It was part of a late-season run of scoring for Williamson, who averaged 29.5 points per game in 33 games with the Nets after the trade. Of course, he also averaged almost 26 shots a night and hit just 45.4 percent during the blitz, so efficiency wasn’t quite the order of the day.

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