Nets vs. Bobcats: Deron Williams Explodes for 57 Points in Win over Bobcats

So that’s why everybody wants to sign Deron Williams this summer.

The New Jersey Nets point guard exploded for 57 points, seven assists and six rebounds in a 104-101 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats on Sunday night. He was 16-of-29 from the field and connected on all 21 of his free-throw attempts. We’ll give him a pass for his five turnovers considering he accounted for 70 percent of the Nets' made field goals.

He had 40 in the second half and broke the previous franchise high of 52 set by Mike Newlin (‘79) and Ray Williams (’82) at the free-throw line with 2:34 remaining in the fourth quarter.

It would have been pretty funny if the Nets lost. They got a measly 20 points from the four other starters and only two others reached double digits. ESPN’s John Hollinger sums it up well:

"

Nobody else scores 55 on Charlotte ... because nobody else needs 55 from a single player to beat Charlotte.

— John Hollinger (@johnhollinger) March 5, 2012"

If there was ever a reminder of how bad the Nets are aside from Williams, this is it.

As for the Bobcats, it’s another game where they get embarrassed. They were 1-of-11 from three-point land and finished the game shooting 38 percent from the field (29-of-76). This could be the low point in a season full of them.

The win puts the Nets at 12-26 on the season to move within seven games of eighth place in the Eastern Conference. It also gives Williams a great opening line when speaking with teams as a free agent this summer:

“Hi, I’m Deron, I scored 57 points in only 38 minutes of action last March.”

In a career with few highlights, Williams took center stage on Sunday and proved to everyone why you can win with this guy as your point guard.