2. Deron Williams at Charlotte Bobcats, March 4, 2012
The final season of the New Jersey Nets in 2011-12 was not a great one. The lockout-shortened season ended with a 22-44 record as the team was packing to move across the river to Brooklyn.
But on March 4, 2012, All-Star Deron Williams put on a show for the Nets NBA record books, torching the hapless Charlotte Bobcats for 57 points at Time Warner Cale Arena.
Sir Charles In Charge
The Bobcats were just 4-30 coming in, compared to New Jersey’s 11-26 mark, and Charlotte would go on to record the worst winning percentage in NBA history at 7-59 (.106, slightly worse than the .110 posted by the 9-73 Philadelphia 76ers in 1972-73).
Williams ended the first half with 17 points as the Bobcats held a 53-45 lead.
After the break, it was all Williams, all the time. He erupred for 22 points in the third quarter as New Jersey charged back to take a 73-72 lead heading into the final period.
In the fourth, D-Will added 18 points to his total as New Jersey took the lead for good early in the period and held off the Bobcats down the stretch.
Williams was 16-for-29 from the floor, went 4-for-11 from behind the arc and made all 21 of his free throws on the record-setting night. He also had seven assists and six rebounds. Kris Humphries added 11 points and 13 boards and Shelden Williams had 10 points off the bench.
Corey Maggette paced Charlotte with 24 points.
The 2011-12 season marked the last of Williams’ three All-Star appearances, as he averaged 21.0 points, 8.7 assists, 3.3 rebounds and 1.2 steals in 36.3 minutes a game on .407/.336/.843 shooting.