"For more than 48 minutes, the underdog, undermanned Nets battled the 76ers on their own court and gave everything they had. Then with 1:21 left in overtime, it looked as if the Nets gave something else — the game — to the Sixers when an errant inbounds pass turned into a breakaway score.

But Deron Williams simply would not accept defeat.

"At the end of the game, we basically put the ball in Deron's hands and said, 'Take us home' and that's what he did," coach Avery Johnson said approvingly.

And — marketing people take note — Williams and all the Nets had one response: "I love it." That's the new team motto, Williams inspired. Don't think too hard, just accept."