As I have always said, despite the New Jersey Nets being easily the worst team in the NBA, eventually they do win a game. But to be fair, their opponent on Wednesday was the New York Knicks.

Perhaps it was because the Nets had their opening day lineup for the first time since the second game of the season or maybe the Knicks were simply outplayed – I suppose it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that the Nets outshot the Knicks 51%-44.6% and went to the charity stripe more often (27-16), allowing New Jersey to dispose of New York 104-95 at the IZOD Center.

New Jersey took control midway through the second quarter, hitting nine straight shots from the field to open a 57-44 lead. Yi Jianlian had three baskets in the run and Chris Douglas-Roberts two, the last on a fastbreak layup. David Lee kept the Knicks close, scoring eight of his 16 first-half points including a layup in the final second of the half.

The Nets continued their hot shooting in the third quarter, opening with a 12-2 spurt to push the lead 72-55 on a dunk by Brook Lopez, who had nine points and nine rebounds in the quarter. The Knicks had their chances in the fourth quarter when the Nets only made six baskets, but they also struggled — hitting nine baskets while turning the ball over seven times. The closest the Knicks got was eight points, all in the final minute.

Jianlian led the Nets with 22 points, 6 rebounds, 2 steals and 2 blocks while Lopez added 21 with 14 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals and 4 blocks; Douglas-Roberts and Devin Harris scored 17 apiece – with Douglas-Roberts grabbing 5 rebounds, dishing out 4 assists along with a steal while Harris grabbed 7 boards and dished out 8 assists.

The Knicks were led by Al Harrington from off the bench with 25 points, 9 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocks while Lee added 24 with 15 rebounds, 8 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks; Wilson Chandler chipped in 15 with 7 rebounds, 4 assists and a block.

New Jersey (3-29) plays again on Saturday when they host the Cleveland Cavaliers while New York (12-20) visits Atlanta to take on the Hawks Friday night.