SAN ANTONIO (AP) 鈥� Keldon Johnson had a career-high 36 points and 11 rebounds and the San Antonio Spurs snapped a five-game skid with a 106-98 win over the injury slowed Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night.
鈥淎 ton of energy, a ton of confidence, that鈥檚 who Keldon is,鈥� San Antonio rookie forward Jeremy Sochan said. 鈥淗e is great. We all trust him.鈥�
Sochan added 16 points in a physical outing that included a dustup with Brooklyn forward Markieff Morris.
The Nets lost their third straight. They have dropped every game since Kevin Durant suffered a sprained MCL in his right knee. Kyrie Irving was a late scratch due to a sore right calf.
Johnson was 11 for 26 from the field, including two key baskets in the fourth quarter. He hit a 3-pointer following a missed 3 by Seth Curry, giving the Spurs an 87-82 lead. One possession after Nic Claxton blocked his dunk attempt, Johnson threw down a one-handed dunk for an 89-82 lead.
鈥淚t felt great. I can鈥檛 lie,鈥� Johnson said of his late 3. 鈥淭hey called timeout right after that. I was hyped. My coaches and teammates put the ball in my hands, and I just make something happen.鈥�
Ben Simmons had a triple-double of 10 points, 10 rebounds and 11 assists for Brooklyn in the opener of a five-game trip. T.J. Warren added 19 points and Claxton had 15 points, 11 rebounds, four blocks and four assists.
A flare-up midway through the second quarter between Morris and Sochan momentarily sparked the Nets. Sochan held three fingers up near Morris鈥� face after draining a 3-pointer that gave San Antonio a 39-34 lead with 5:20 remaining in the half. The Nets鈥� veteran verbally let the rookie know that wasn鈥檛 appreciated and then delivered a shoulder into Sochan鈥檚 chest on the ensuing possession. The play resulted in an offensive and technical foul on Morris, as well as a Flagrant 1 foul on Sochan, who pulled Morris to the court on the play.
鈥淚t鈥檚 a different era, man,鈥� Morris said. 鈥淵ou seen the play before that he makes a 3 and he鈥檚 pointing in my face. 鈥榊ou made a shot. What is that about?鈥� So, I mean, I set a hard screen and then he grabbed me. He actually did like a wrestling move on me. I said that's impressive, I told him. It was impressive because he used a lot of force and he kind of flipped me. He got me.鈥�
Brooklyn went on a 15-3 run following the dustup, erasing yet another sluggish start.
That momentum stopped in the third quarter as the Nets were outscored 25-17.
The Nets were scoreless for four minutes after Simmons made the game鈥檚 opening basket on a driving hook shot 23 seconds in. Simmons opened the game shooting 2 for 5 after a series of spin moves and drives ended with most of his shots rolling off the rim.
鈥淲ith Kevin and Ky out, we have a lot of different lineups that we鈥檙e not 100% familiar with,鈥� Nets wing Joe Harris said.
San Antonio led Brooklyn 27-15 after first quarter. It was the fewest points scored by a Spurs opponent in the first quarter this season. The previous low was 23 points by Minnesota on Oct. 30. The Nets were slowed by seven turnovers.
TIP-INS
Nets: Irving was not initially listed on the injury report, but was ruled out prior to the game. Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said he does not believe the injury is serious and is hopeful Irving can play Thursday in Phoenix. 鈥� Brooklyn鈥檚 season-low output in the first quarter is 14 points, on Oct. 19 against New Orleans, and Nov. 23 against Toronto. Its season low for any quarter is 13 points in the third against Miami on Jan. 8.
Spurs: San Antonio has not won consecutive games since winning three straight Dec. 8-12.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Phoenix on Thursday.
Spurs: Host Los Angeles Clippers on Friday.
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Raul Dominguez, The Associated Press
