There’s something big growing in New York’s Brooklyn borough.

For the second straight game, the Brooklyn Nets thwarted a late comeback attempt from a playoff-caliber opponent and picked up a crucial victory in their climb toward the postseason, defeating the Charlotte Bobcats 104-99 at the Barclays Center on Wednesday night.

Charlotte Bobcats v Brooklyn Nets

The Nets suffered a setback over the weekend in Washington when they let a second half lead slip away, and for few moments on Wednesday it looked like that same fate might befall them again. But this time, despite falling behind in the fourth, Brooklyn stormed back to secure the victory, earning much praise from head coach Jason Kidd.

“We built a lead and we gave the lead away, but the thing I liked about the guys: They didn’t panic,” Coach Kidd said. “They stayed the course… No one panicked and we executed on both ends when we had to.”

After a rough first half of the season, the Nets have made remarkable strides since the All-Star break, leading all Eastern Conference squads with an 11-4 record in that span.

The triumph over Charlotte came two nights after the Nets had to hold off a late rally posted by the Phoenix Suns. In that contest, late heroics from point guard Deron Williams led to a 108-95 victory.

After an excellent effort Monday, Williams continued his hot streak with a game-high 25 points and eight assists on Wednesday against Charlotte. He also buried the biggest shot of the win, an 18-foot jumper that served as the dagger to the Bobcats’ comeback hopes.

Charlotte Bobcats v Brooklyn Nets

Williams was slowed by nagging ankle injuries for much of the early stretch of the season, and Coach Kidd surmised that his point guard’s improved play could be a sign of newfound health.

“I think his play is speaking for (his health) on both ends,” Jason said of Williams, who scored 25-plus for the second consecutive game. “Deron took control of the game and made plays on both ends. I thought he did a great job tonight.”

While the Brooklyn floor-general finished strong, he and swingman Joe Johnson endured a slow start. The two shot just 3-of-11 in the first. But first-year center Mason Plumlee picked up the slack with a team-high nine points in the first 12 minutes. Plumlee’s first frame included an authoritative jam off a feed from guard Shaun Livingston and the rookie’s strong play had Brooklyn ahead 26-21 after one.

As Williams attested afterward, the entire night was an example of Brooklyn’s “next man up” philosophy at work.

“We trust that if one of us gets beat, the next guy is going to have our back,” Williams said. “It doesn’t happen every time, but we know even if it doesn’t one time, next time it’s going to be there.”

Coach Kidd rested his starters early in the second frame and during that span, Charlotte battled back behind reserve guard Chris Douglas-Roberts, who posted 10 of his 13 points in the second, and briefly took a two-point lead.

But once Williams and Johnson returned to the floor, they quickly flipped the script and although shots weren’t there for Williams and Johnson in the first, Brooklyn’s Backcourt found a rhythm in the second. Johnson, who was plus-21 on the night, knocked down a three and a fadeaway jumper, while Williams scored or assisted on nine points in the final 3:13 of the first half. That late surge sent Brooklyn into the break leading 54-46.

Williams, Johnson and Livingston combined for 19 points in the second quarter and an astounding 62 points in the game, outscoring Charlotte’s starting guards by 35. Coach Kidd was thrilled with the play of his starting unit, but also admitted that he’d like to see more contributions from the second line.

“That first group is playing extremely well right now by sharing the ball and making the right basketball plays,” J-Kidd said. “They’re causing a problem and the guys are getting the right looks. Hopefully we can continue to build on that and get the guys off the bench to join the party.”

Brooklyn did have two bench players in double figures on the scoreboard, guard Marcus Thornton (11 points) and center Andray Blatche (13), but no other reserve scored for the Nets. Thornton turned in four of those points late in the third quarter, including a three off a feed from Johnson right around the one-minute mark.

That triple was a big one, as just three minutes prior, Charlotte had cut Brooklyn’s lead back to just three points. The two teams traded buckets for much of the third frame. Williams provided a pair of slick assists for the highlight reel, including a dish to Plumlee, who flushed an impressive reverse slam with four Charlotte defenders standing watch.

But the Bobcats kept battling back behind strong play from big man Al Jefferson, whose back-to-back buckets ut the Nets lead to three, 66-63. Jefferson finished with 18 points and 12 rebounds, but was completely silenced in the fourth quarter. Jason explained Brooklyn’s defensive philosophy against Charlotte’s frontcourt star.

“We don’t ask to play him one-on-one,” Kidd said. “It’s five guys all trying to help. We look for Mase to make it tough and not let him catch it in his sweet spot and have the other guys help . . . throw a lot of different looks and a lot of different bodies on Jefferson.”

Blatche, Livingston and Thornton teamed up to reverse the damage done by Jefferson and eventually send the game into the fourth quarter at 75-70 in favor of Brooklyn.

However, when the clock reset to start the fourth, Charlotte immediately gave the Nets a final push. A three from Douglas-Roberts tied the game at 77 and another triple from Gary Neal gave the Bobcats an 82-80 lead. Despite falling behind, the Nets remained relaxed, and Blatche answered back with a bucket down low off a feed from Williams. As the Brooklyn center said afterward, the team’s poised play late was the sign of a lesson learned.

“We learned from our mistakes in D.C. We didn’t panic,” Blatche said. “We stayed calm. Like Jason Kidd said, we just continued to trust in one another.”

After Blatche’s deuce, Charlotte briefly retook the lead, but then Williams ratcheted up his intensity and, by virtue, his play.

First the Brooklyn point guard drove hard on Bobcats guard Kemba Walker, taking him all the way through the paint for a smooth finger roll that brought the Nets within one. Then Williams nailed a three to give Brooklyn the lead and on the ensuing Charlotte possession, he picked Walker’s pocket of Walker, then drew a foul, which allowed Williams to complete an outstanding seven-point swing with two free throws.

The seven points from Williams came in less than a minute and turned a three-point Charlotte lead into a four-point Brooklyn advantage. The Nets never looked back from there, even though the Bobcats kept fighting. Shortly after Williams’ charge came another thrilling series.

The Brooklyn point guard kicked it off with an offensive rebound, which he dished to Johnson, who finished with a slick tear-drop from six feet out. Charlotte’s Gerald Henderson answered with a dunk, but Johnson responded right back  with a short turnaround jumper.

Charlotte Bobcats v Brooklyn Nets

Henderson raised the ante with a three pointer to cut Brooklyn’s lead to two, however, forward Paul Pierce was right there to match Henderson’s trey with one of his own. Pierce’s triple came off some great ball movement by the Brooklyn offense, as the rock rotated between Williams and Livingston before finding Pierce open up top.

Even after Pierce’s trifecta, the Bobcats remained persistent and Gary Neal drained three to keep them in it. Pierce hit one of two free throws on his next possession and then pulled down a defensive rebound to preserve a three-point Nets lead. Coach Kidd noted after the game, that those rebounds were as crucial as the shots that followed them.

“We got a score and we started getting some rebounds,” J-Kidd said. “That kind of led to us giving up that lead. Charlotte was capitalizing on second and third opportunities and getting put backs. That kind of took the lead away but the guys stayed the course.”

The course eventually led to Williams isolated with the ball up top and less than a minute remaining on the clock. He sized up Walker and drove him back onto his heels before stepping back and nailing the game’s crucial shot. The 18-footer put Brooklyn ahead by five, 100-95. Shortly thereafter, Charlotte answered with a trifecta, but a pair of free throws from Williams kept the Bobcats at arm’s length and sealed the 104-99 victory.

While Williams’ second straight big night was the centerpiece of the Nets’ win, several others helped to set the table. Johnson finished with 20 points and a season-high eight rebounds, while Livingston scored 17. As Coach Kidd said afterward, the win was much more than a one-man game.

“Deron was great, but it’s not just Deron,” Jason said. “Everyone’s touching the ball, and everybody has trust in one another in the big moments of the game … guys are still sharing the ball.”

The victory moved Brooklyn back up to fifth place in the Eastern Conference, fully atoning for the loss in Washington. It also put the Nets just 2.5 games behind Toronto for the Atlantic Division title.

The win was a monumental one as well: Brooklyn has now won 10 straight games at home.

NEXT UP

The Nets (35-31) will look to make it 11 straight home wins when they take on the Atlantic Division rival Celtics (23-46) on Friday night at Barclays Center.

Brooklyn will play host to Boston with revenge in mind after a March 7 loss in Beantown. The Nets had a dreadful shooting night at the TD Garden, connecting on just 36.3 percent of their shots in a 91-84 defeat.

“We owe Boston,” Williams said. “We definitely have to be ready to play.”

Brooklyn will need a better shooting night than its last tilt with Boston, and it’ll have to do so in sleeved jerseys. The Nets are set to wear their “Brooklyn Blue” jerseys, modeled after those worn by the Brooklyn Dodgers baseball team, the last major pro team to hail from BK. The sleeved jerseys have brought some negative reviews from players this season, but coach kid isn’t buying that they play a role.

“As long as we shoot the ball well, nobody complains,” he said.

The Nets will be out to take their season series with the Celtics at 7:30 p.m. EDT and the tilt will be broadcast on the YES Network.

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