Apparently Joe Johnson doesn’t have trouble scoring on either side of the Atlantic.
After going off for 29 points in last week’s destruction of the Hawks in London, Johnson scored 25 points in 30 minutes Monday — including 20 in the first half — to help the Nets cruise past the Knicks, 103-80, in front of a sellout crowd inside Madison Square Garden.
“Joe has been everything we’ve expected,” said Kevin Garnett.
Johnson has now scored at least 23 points in five of the last six games for the Nets, with the only game he finished with less coming Jan. 11 in Toronto on the heels of playing 46 minutes in a double-overtime win over the Heat the night before. It’s been a remarkable turnaround for Johnson, who had only scored over 20 points seven times in his first 32 games before his recent hot streak.
He credited coach Jason Kidd with instilling confidence in him, and telling him the Nets needed Johnson to pick things up recently while Deron Williams — who missed the previous five games before playing 27 minutes off the bench Monday — sat out with his latest ankle issues.
“It’s been J-Kidd,” Johnson said. “He’s been telling me, ‘Be ready. We’re coming to you.’
“It’s not necessarily for me to score. But, if the double-team doesn’t come, he knows I’ll make the right play. Early in games, when it does come, our guys are making them pay and I just kind of get wide-open shots.”
That was the case Monday, as Johnson went 5-for-8 and scored 12 points to help the Nets jump out to an 11-point lead after the first quarter, a lead they’d never relinquish. In doing so, Johnson showed off his versatility, making a pair of 3-pointers, taking the ball to the rim for two buckets and also hitting a pull-up midrange jumper.
“He’s one of the most versatile players [offensively],” said Shaun Livingston. “Being able to put the ball on the floor, being able to spot up and shoot, being able to post up, being able to play the pick and roll, make the pass of the pick and roll, floaters … he can do a lot of different things.
“We like to just put the ball in his hands and he can make decisions or we can post him up. It’s my job to get him in spots where he can be effective, and he’s just doing a great job.”
Johnson’s play had Kidd and several of Johnson’s teammates calling for him to make the trip to New Orleans for next month’s All-Star Game. For his part, though, Johnson — who has made six previous All-Star appearances — said he isn’t thinking about that.
With the win, the Nets have now gone 7-1 since the start of 2014 heading into Tuesday night’s game against the Magic in Brooklyn, have climbed to seventh in the Eastern Conference standings and within 2 ¹/₂ games of the Raptors for third place overall and first in the Atlantic Division.