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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
PORTLAND, OR – 1986: Darryl Dawkins #53 of the New Jersey Nets looks on against the Portland Trail Blazers during a game played in 1986 at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Portland, Oregon. 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 1986 NBAE (Photo by Brian Drake/NBAE via Getty Images) /

7. Darryl Dawkins vs. Philadelphia 76ers, Nov. 5, 1983

Darryl Dawkins was an enigma, at the same time mega-talented, often less-than-focused and always fun-loving, as evidenced by the long line of self-given nicknames and his claim to be from the planet “Lovetron.”

He was the NBA’s first high-school-to-pros player in the modern era, going fifth overall to the Philadelphia 76ers in the 1975 NBA Draft. He never emerged as a star in Philadelphia and he was eventually traded to the New Jersey Nets as the 76ers made room for Moses Malone.

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    • Both the Nets and the defending champion 76ers game into the Nov. 5, 1983, matchup at Brendan Byne Arena with 3-1 records and after an early surge by New Jersey, Philadelphia got a working lead and held on for a 119-112 win.

    Their margin might have been much larger had Dawkins not decided this was the night for a block party in East Rutherford.

    Dawkins played 41 minutes, avoiding the foul trouble that regularly plagued him, and went for a career-high and franchise-record 13 blocked shots.

    The primary target of the blocks was Malone, the three-time MVP. Malone finished the night with 27 points, but he did it on a sub-par 8-for-22 shooting performance.

    For his part, Dawkins had 17 points, eight rebounds and two steals along with the 13 blocks, going 7-of-13. Albert King paced the Nets with 23 points and 13 boards, while Julius Erving tormented his former club with 32 points.

    The 1983-84 season would prove to be Dawkins’ best as a pro, as he averaged 16.8 points, 6.7 rebounds and 1.7 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game, shooting .593/2-for-5/.735. He would be plagued by back problems and off-the-court personal difficulties over his remaining five seasons.

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