Brook Lopez didn’t remember the last time the Nets won three straight games, which isn’t surprising. Most players don’t recall numbers like that.

But if anyone should have remembered it was Lopez. He’s the only player left from the franchise’s last three-game winning streak, which came during his rookie season in late January/early February 2009.

The Nets matched that elusive feat last night with a Lopez-led 94-90 victory over the Golden State Warriors at The Rock that was impressive for many reasons.

* They did it without their new All-Star point guard Deron Williams. He was back in Dallas to be with his wife Amy, who gave birth to their fourth child, Desmond, yesterday.

* Lopez was dominant, scoring 26 points and grabbing 10 rebounds. He scored the last

Aside from concussions suffered by Anthony Morrow and Damion James, the Nets' London trip couldn’t have gone better for the team, unless they managed to get a commitment from Deron Williams that he will stay with the organization past next season.

Overall, though, it was win-win-win for the Nets. They won both games against the Raptors and probably won over some fans in the United Kingdom. The Brits had to be impressed with Williams, of course, but also with Brook Lopez, Kris Humphries and the passion with which a 17-win team played with during the NBA’s first ever regular-season foray into Europe.

In Saturday’s 137-136 triple-overtime thriller, the Nets showed tremendous mental toughness and resilience to come back, lose leads, claw back and do whatever needed

In the NBA’s first-ever regular-season game in Europe, Deron Williams won for the first time as a Net. Both could be significant developments for the future of the organization.

Owner Mikhail Prokhorov’s vision is to make the Nets a global team, but they can’t be one if they don’t have superstars and they don’t win. They finally have a legitimate superstar in Williams and they finally won a game with him, beating the Toronto Raptors 116-103 in a historic game in London on Friday.

Now the key is keeping Williams, which is another big part of this European trip.

They’re trying to grow their brand and connect with people in England. Remember, Barclays, which owns the naming rights to the Nets’ arena in Brooklyn, is based across the pond.  They

When the Nets went to Russia and China in the preseason, they were looking forward to bonding, developing chemistry and getting better acquainted with coach Avery Johnson and his system.

The Nets are hoping for some of the same things in London this week as they try to incorporate Deron Williams into Johnson’s system.

Unfortunately for the Nets, they don’t have this week plus another two of camp and exhibition games to build something. They have to do it on the fly, and with Williams probably limited to no practices on the trip.

The way the schedule has worked out, the Nets have had three games, two shootarounds and no practices since Williams flew to New Jersey last week after his blockbuster acquisition from Utah. The Nets are expected to have two practices and at

NEWARK – As the fourth quarter wound down, and then the overtime, it looked like the Nets were going to have a similar result as the last time they jumped aboard an intercontinental flight. And you expected Deron Williams to deliver a clinching basket.

In preseason, Stephen Graham hit a buzzer-beating, game-winner to send the Nets off to Russia and ultimately China.

Last night, in Williams’ home debut, the Nets came up just short of leaving for London with a comeback victory at the buzzer. They ended up losing 104-103 to the Suns in a wild, entertaining game that 15,836 fans attended.

The ball was in Williams’ battered hands on the last play and he turned the corner for the basket, getting by Grant Hill and Marcin Gortat before putting up a runner over Channing Frye

HOUSTON -- The Nets have two big issues right now: Deron Williams’ wrist and their defense. 

Williams’ wrist is a bigger concern.

The Nets’ new All-Star point guard has a strained right wrist that requires rest, and he hasn’t been able to get much. He played in the All-Star game and banged it. He played Friday in San Antonio and banged it, and it still bothered him in his second game as a Net last night.

But Williams still made plays for his teammates in a 123-108 shellacking by the Rockets. The Nets missed 60 percent of their shots and Williams still had 17 assists. Just like in his debut, he could have had more but the Nets sometimes can’t shoot straight.

“It’s going to continue to be sore,” Williams said. “I’ve got

SAN ANTONIO – Mikhail Prokhorov attended his first Nets road game because he wanted to personally meet and welcome his new superstar point guard Deron Williams to the organization.

Prokhorov did the right thing by staying mostly out of the public eye and letting this night be all about Williams. Prokhorov had a private room at the AT&T Center, where he met Williams for the first time.

The Russian billionaire didn’t comment or gloat about the Nets’ big catch, even though he could have and some owners probably would have after some of the things that were written and said about Prokhorov’s inability to sell the biggest names on his team.

This night was about Williams, and in the Nets’ 106-96 loss to the Spurs, you could see what kind of impact he is going

The Nets trade for Deron Williams and almost everyone immediately looks at the negative: that he can opt out of his contract after next season and become a free agent.

Maybe it’s because we live in the metropolitan area and we’re taught to be cynical, but too many tweeters, bloggers, fans and writers are already saying Williams is gone after a year and a half, that he is a 1 ½-year rental.

Maybe it’s true, but let it play out first. That’s what Williams says, what the Nets say, and really what should be done. But in this world where everyone wants up-to-the-minute information and want to be the first to say, we always said he would never stay, just let it play out.

“I’m just looking forward to the opportunity right now,” Williams said

After the nearly six-month long pursuit of Carmelo Anthony ended with him going to the Knicks, almost everyone thought the Nets were going to muddle through a dreary finish to this season, hoping that Derrick Favors showed some development and Brook Lopez made his presence felt on the glass.

If Lopez rebounded as well as general manager Billy King did from the conclusion of the 'Melo-drama, the Nets center would lead the league in boards.

King stunned everyone in the NBA Wednesday when he pulled off a heist that brought All-Star point guard Deron Williams to the Nets.

No one saw this coming as the Nets were expected to make minor moves involving Devin Harris and Troy Murphy. But King pulled a rabbit out of the hat and stole some thunder from the Knicks, who hosted Anthony’s press