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NEW YORK (AP) - Paul Pierce scored 25 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets over the Charlotte Bobcats 105-89 on Wednesday night.
Deron Williams added 13 points and seven assists, and Andray Blatche scored 13 off the bench to help the Nets win their final home game before the All-Star break.
Brooklyn went on a 15-3 run to open the third quarter, extending its lead to 17, and never looked back.
Charlotte kept it close early, preventing the game from getting out of hand when Brooklyn threatened to pull away early in the second. But the Nets' combination of quick penetration and strong perimeter shooting helped put it away in the third.
Kemba Walker led the Bobcats with 16 points. Al Jefferson, who scored at least 26 in each of his previous three games, was limited to 12 on 5-for-13 shooting.
Both teams got off to a strong start offensively, with each shooting at least 50 percent from the floor in the first quarter. But the pace slowed considerably in the second.
Brooklyn got a lift from its bench to open the period as its reserves scored the first eight points to give the Nets a 38-29 lead. The Bobcats hung tough, though, cutting the margin to five at the break.
But the Nets used that early second-half run to put the game away. They shot 5 of 7 from beyond the arc in the third on their way to 13 for 31 on the night. Overall, Brooklyn outscored the Bobcats 35-18 in the third quarter, led by Pierce, who scored 14 of his 25 in the period.
NOTES: The Nets have won four straight at Barclays Center, and 11 of their last 13. ... One night after posting a season-high 54.9 field goal percentage, Charlotte managed only 41.4 percent from the floor. ... The Bobcats have now lost their last nine games when finishing off a back-to-back. ... The Nets will play their next seven games on the road, starting with a national TV date against Chicago on Thursday night to close out their first-half schedule.
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