Giddy Nets get off to great start in Newark

NEWARK - Google the Russian word for hyperbole and one gets "preuvelichenie." Or, just consider the general lack of understatement surrounding the Nets' first regular-season NBA game in their temporary Newark home, where the team's new Russian owner, Mikhail Prokhorov, last night gathered beat reporters in a VIP room for a pregame Champagne toast.

That was followed by Newark Mayor Cory Booker, giddy over the Nets' presence and commissioner David Stern's announcement that the Prudential Center will host the 2011 draft, declaring his city "the basketball version of Cape Canaveral; we are going to be the launch pad this year for great NBA careers. We have the eyes of the globe focused here."

The evening certainly was a step up from the Nets' Meadowlands days, despite their renter's status while waiting for the completion of a new Brooklyn arena in two seasons. And it certainly helped that, after trailing roughly 45 of the game's 48 minutes, the Nets conjured a 101-98 victory over the Detroit Pistons in the dying moments.

Former Golden State Warrior Anthony Morrow, one of three free agents acquired by the restructured Nets after a funereal 12-win season, sank a rainbow three-pointer with 26 seconds remaining to finally wipe out a Detroit lead that had been as high as 10 points five minutes earlier.

Nets center Brook Lopez finished with a game-high 25 points, followed by Devin Harris with 22, and rookie Derrick Favors came off the bench to take 10 rebounds. The Nets outshot (48.8 to 44.6 percent) and outrebounded (44 to 37) Detroit.

There were 15,178 in attendance, though for much of the first half the bulk of the crowd appeared to be wandering the concourses rather than watching basketball. Mayor Booker's excitement included a reminder that the Liberty also is relocating to Newark next summer, during Madison Square Garden's renovation, and an NCAA regional will be played here in March.

But there was the question of whether this actually can be "home" to the wayward Nets who, oddly, wore their road red uniforms. "Right now," coach Avery Johnson said, "we can't think about two years down the line. All we have is tonight. That's the only thing we're dealing with. And, after tonight, we'll think about the next home games, and hopefully it can become a home-court advantage."

In the meantime, Prokhorov was reminded of the Knicks' attempt to establish a foothold in his team's future Brooklyn base with a giant Amar'e Stoudemire billboard there. "I have seen the picture," Prokhorov deadpanned, "but Amar'e looks very sad. He looks like he wants to play in Brooklyn in a couple of years."