MINNEAPOLIS — C.J. Watson isn’t known for talking, but the Nets backup point guard couldn’t help himself after getting the better of a testy back-and-forth with Timberwolves point guard J.J. Barea in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ 91-83 win last night.
After Watson appeared to have flopped to draw an offensive foul on Barea early in the fourth quarter, he seemed to admit as much when he was interviewed on the court after the game by the YES Network.
“J.J. Barea’s a flopping guy, so I tried to give him a taste of his own medicine,” Watson said. “I hope I don’t get fined, though.”
Barea — one of the league’s most flagrant floppers and who was hit with a $5,000 fine for his second offense of the season Monday — picked up five fouls in the fourth quarter alone, as he and Watson were going at it at both ends of the floor.
But it was Watson who clearly came away as the winner, keeping the Nets ahead after the Timberwolves closed to within two points twice early in the fourth quarter. Watson scored nine straight points to open the fourth for the Nets before the big three of Deron Williams, Brook Lopez and Joe Johnson took over down the stretch.
Watson finished the game with 14 points on 6-for-8 shooting, including a pair of 3-pointers, to go along with three rebounds and two assists.
“He played great,” Williams said. “He’s the reason we were able to get our confidence back in that fourth quarter. He got going and was able to extend the lead to about 10 points, and came up big for us.”
* Williams, Lopez and Johnson all have a shot at making the All-Star team when the reserves are unveiled tonight. Lopez, however, claimed he wouldn’t be paying attention.
“No, no … I never watch any of that stuff,” Lopez said with a smile. “I’ll probably be sitting in my room with the lights turned off, doing nothing.”