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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
PISCATAWAY, NJ – CIRCA 1980: Vinnie Johnson #15 of the Seattle Supersonics drives on Mike Newlin #14 of the New Jersey Nets during an NBA basketball game circa 1980 at the Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway, New Jersey. Johnson played for the Supersonics from 1979-81. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /

11. Mike Newlin vs. Boston Celtics, Dec. 16, 1979

Mike Newlin had a solid eight-year run with the Houston Rockets, but was always the forgotten member of the backcourt behind Calvin Murphy.

His role had diminished over his last three seasons in Houston after the Rockets had taken John Lucas with the No. 1 pick in the draft in 1976 and when the New Jersey Nets acquired Newlin in the fall of 1979, the veteran got a chance to do something he’d never done before.

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    • At age 30, Newlin was a team’s No. 1 option for the first time.

    He ran with it, even as the Nets struggled coming off their first NBA playoff appearance the previous season. When the Boston Celtics came to the Rutgers Athletic Center on Dec. 16, 1979, they arrived with a 24-7 record, re-energized with the arrival of rooke Larry Bird.

    The Nets, meanwhile, were just 12-19 and were 0-3 against Boston already, including a 116-79 shellacking at the RAC on Halloween night.

    With Newlin setting the tone, the Nets hung around all night in a back-and-forth game, forcing the Celtics to overtime before Boston came away with the 115-112 victory.

    That spoiled Newlin’s career night a bit. The veteran left-hander obliterated his previous career-high of 38 points, finishing with 52 in the loss to the Celtics. If was the first of Newlin’s four games with the Nets of at least 40 points.

    That season, he topped 20 points a game for the first time in his career, averaging 20.9 to go with 4.0 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 1.5 steals in 32.2 minutes a game, shooting .460/.296/.884.

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