Brook Lopez Scores Team High 32 Points and 18 Rebounds, 11th Double-Double of the Season; But Joe Johnson Saves the Day

On the first official day of spring, the Brooklyn Nets returned home to a snowy Brooklyn, from a 4-game road trip, going 2-4 against the likes of the Cleveland Cavaliers, Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers and Minnesota Timberwolves.

Some might call that a successful road trip winning two of four, but know that the Nets, in defeating two teams they were expected to beat in Philly and the Wolves, lost to two teams in playoff contention: Heat and Cavs.

The Nets even had the opportunity to exploit the Heat for their own benefit, as far as the race for 8th is concerned and failed to do so.

Tonight, the Nets hosted, yet another team in playoff contention-the Milwaukee Bucks, who currently occupy the 6th seed at 34-34.

In their first meeting of the season, Bucks Head Coach Jason Kidd's first return to Brooklyn since he was traded for two second-round draft picks, the summer prior, the Nets lost in triple OT, 122-118.

In the second meeting of the season, the Nets would experience the same fate, this time losing at the end of regulation, 103-97.

Tonight was the last and final game of the season series between the two teams, and this time around, the Nets walked away with their heads held high.

Any time these two teams matchup, a fight to the finish is expected with extra time usually a strong possibility-which is exactly how this game developed.

Like the Bucks, the Nets needed extra time x 3 to outlast the Bucks, 129-127, because nothing involving the Nets from their perspective can be easy right?

During the early stages of this game, I thought I saw the signs that would prove to be the reasoning of why the Nets would lose the final game of this season series.

For instance, the Nets fell behind in deficits of double-digits during the 1st half.

With 3:30 remaining in the 1st quarter, the Bucks were up by 10, 27-17 as the "Greek Freak," Giannis Antetokounmpo converted one of two free throw attempts.

In the second, Ersan Ilyasova-the pride of Turkey, would connect on a three late in the quarter, heading towards the halftime period which would give the Bucks a 12-point lead, up 68-56 with 30 seconds left until the intermission period.

Just based on the way the Nets season has progressed to present day, I believed that they would struggle to comeback from these deficits and even if they did, in the end, find a way to lose.

But they didn't.

The Brooklyn Nets defied the odds.

They battled back from both deficits due to the strong consistent play of Thaddeus Young, who made key shots throughout the game and down the stretch en-route to 24 points, five rebounds and three assists.

Brooklyn Nets power forward, Thaddeus Young

But this game was won in the fourth quarter and beyond and that's where the Nets made the plays to position themselves for the opportunity to win.

With the Nets down by three, 101-98 via a Zaza Pachulia two-point shot, who plagued the Nets all night from the post, Joe Johnson responded knocking down a three from the arc, assisted by Brook Lopez, which would evidently send the game into OT, as the Bucks failed to answer.

In the first OT, Khris Middleton, whose play was problematic from the Nets point of view continued his brilliance, converting three of the Bucks four field-goals, each of which the Nets countered.

More of the same would continue in the 2nd OT period with a little bit of deja-vu featuring Johnson, who would bail the Nets out, once again sinking another three to seal the Nets fate for the 3rd OT period.

"They set a great screen, and (Tyler) Ennis was trailing and he got off a great shot," said Jason Kidd during his post-game conference.

"And that's what big players do. He stepped up and made the big three."

In what would be the final OT period of the game, Lopez starred early, posturizing Ersan Ilyasova for the first field-goal of the five-minute period, converting a free-throw after drawing a foul and then hitting his next field-goal which proved to be the push the Nets needed, sealing the win with a series of made free-throws courtesy of Johnson, Young and Jarrett Jack.

Brooklyn Nets guard Jarrett Jack

"It was just a good look," said Lopez regarding his dunk in the 3rd OT period, following the Nets win. "They had to respect (Jarrett) Jack coming off the pick and roll, and he made a great pass so I was able to finish it easy."

Lopez finished with a team-high 32 points and 18 rebounds, his 11th double-double of the season.

Johnson, who saved the Nets time and time again from defeat compiled 20 points and 7 assists and Jack contributed 12 and 7.

As for the Bucks, their starting five alone boasted a stat-line that without looking at the Nets score would persuade you to believe that they were indeed the victor.

Michael Carter-Williams: 19 points.

Middleton: 29 points and 6 assists.

Pachulia: 22 and 21 rebounds, a monster game.

Ilyasova, 20 points and 13 rebounds and Antetokounmpo, 23 and 14 rebounds, who actually had the chance to send the Nets home at the end of regulation missing an 8-foot shot as time expired.

"I had a chance to send it home, but I didn't make the shot," said Giannis, reflecting on his missed game-winner.

"It felt good when it left my hand, but after we were up three we let Joe Johnson make a three.

It was Johnson's three that put Giannis in that tough situation, all of 20 years young with the game in his hands and nothing to show for it.

And that's what happens.

You can't make them all but I guarantee that if there was another OT period to play, Giannis would've had another opportunity to make the Nets pay.

The Nets alleviated those thoughts and improved to 28-39 overall on the season while the Bucks dropped their 5th straight game, falling to 34-35 on the season.

Unlike the Bucks, the Nets don't have the luxury of owning the 6th seed, positioned in the playoffs.

They are on the outside looking in, and Jack knows that.

"We don't have much time to celebrate or think about it," Jack said post-game.

"We gotta move on to the next one, go to the next task at hand and be ready to take on a tough Indiana team that plays well in their building."

An Indiana team that is in a favorable spot, currently in a two-team race for the 8th and final spot with the Boston Celtics, both nursing identical records of 30-38.

It seems as though the Nets will only be able to make the playoffs by making a daily commitment to prayer or collapses by the three teams ahead of them.

The Boston Celtics, Charlotte Hornets and Pacers all will face their share of tough teams to end the 2014-15 campaign, playing 8, 8 and 9 games respectively against playoff teams.

The problem is, the Nets too will have their own problems to confront in the nine games they will play against playoff teams.

There is a possibility that the Nets can move up if in fact two of the three teams fail to handle their business down the stretch.

But the Nets don't have the luxury of feeling any comfort.

They too have to handle their business down the stretch also.

Jason Kidd Comes Out on Top Despite Boos from Nets' Fans

Jason Kidd, former Brooklyn Nets head coach and now head coach of the Milwaukee Bucks, was booed during the start of the Nets game against Milwaukee Wednesday night at the Barclays Center, but he got the last laugh after stomping his former team in a triple OT 122-118 win. The Bucks had just beaten the other New York team a day before at home, and Kidd's intentions were to show off his young team to a possible new rival.

Kidd had Brandon Knight to thank, after the 22-year-old former Kentucky Wildcat missed a layup that forced his team to go into a second overtime. Knight clinched the tying 3-pointer in the second overtime and hit both free throws with 5.6 seconds to go in the third.

"My teammates trusted me to make the next shot to force a third overtime, so that's really what it's all about," Knight said, "and we stuck through it as a team."

In the arena where Kidd's retired jersey hangs high in the rafters, fans have yet to forgive him for leaving the Nets after only one season to take the coaching job for the Bucks. Kidd was booed and heckled as a traitor. One fan was even brave enough to shout out "you suck" during a pause in the singing of the national anthem. The heckler was heard throughout the arena, prompting other fans to laugh and cheer on.

Kidd, who went 44-38 in his only season as Nets coach was rumored to have left after a falling out with Nets management. Kidd left before the Nets could actually fire him, although Nets GM Billy King previously denied that he wanted to fire Kidd in December 2013—after losing 21 of their first 31 games last season. The Nets hired Kidd in June 2013--weeks after he retired as an NBA player.

While talking to the media on Wednesday after the game, Kidd poked fun at the fans, confident after his team's victory.

"It was a big character game for our young guys," Kidd said. "I have bad hearing anyways. So I thought whatever the greeting was, it's about the players. People don't pay to come see the coach, they come to see the guys play."

Bad hearing or not, the win was actually a "big character game" for Kidd.

Kidd seemed his normal self, sharing some laughs with Joe Johnson, and even made it clear that his last defensive play in the second OT was for Joe.

Joe Johnson, Brooklyn Nets Shooting guard/Small forward

Moments before the third overtime, Kidd let the Nets' bench know that he knew the play would be called for Johnson. And it was—but Johnson was unable to clinch a 2-pointer to win the game.

Johnson, known for his calm demeanor kept the focus on his team, pointing out the struggles the Nets are facing.

"We've got to find some ways somehow to get a win," Johnson said after the game. "When you're in a rut like this, it's tough. You've got to do all the little things. When you do get that win, it won't be certainly easy."

Fresh off of claiming victory against the Phoenix Suns in their last home game 108-95, all while achieving wins in eight of their last 10 games, the Brooklyn Nets continued their three-game home-stand against the Charlotte Bobcats, mirroring their results of the previous game obtaining a five point victory on the Bobcats, 104-99.

This is the second straight win, improving their overall regular season record to (35-31) in position to make their second straight playoff appearance since the inaugural grand opening of the Barclays Center in 2012.

The Bobcats are currently the 7th seed, one seed below the Nets, in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race one month away from the end of the regular season.

With aspirations of completing the season on a high note, each game for the Nets holds a certain level of significance and tonight is another game against an opponent the Nets are capable of defeating,

Each NBA team features its own difficulties for its opponents and the Bobcats provide a down-low offensive force in F Al Jefferson, averaging a double-double for the season recording 21.3 points per game along with 10.4 rebounds.

"We're not going to have Mason go up against him one on one," said Brooklyn Nets Head Coach Jason Kidd prior to the tip-off of tonight's match-up in his pre-game press conference to numerous media outlets.

"He's patient and knows how to put the ball in the basket," Kidd continues.

He did just that.

Jefferson displayed his talents early scoring 10 points, while grabbing 6 rebounds in the first half causing match-up problems for the Nets front-court, particularly C Mason Plumlee who defended Jefferson for the better part of the first half committing 3 fouls in the process.

With the score tied 20 all with 2:17 left in the second quarter, back-to-back jump-shots by reserves F Andray Blatche and G Marcus Thornton in addition to two made free throws by first unit PG Deron WIlliams, improved the Nets lead to six, 26-20, going into the second half ahead, 26-21 as one made free throw by Jefferson cut the overall deficit to 5 in the closing minutes.

In the second quarter, the Nets capitalized on their early slim lead extending it to a game high advantage of 13 points, when SG Thornton connected from behind the arc, Nets leading 38-25 with 8:20 remaining in the second quarter.

The Nets struggled to maintain their lead throughout second half as the Bobcats sustained a relentless effort which decided the result of the game towards final minutes of regulation.

With the game hanging in the balance, the Nets and Bobcats engaged in a back and forth rally where one team had to make enough plays to avenge the response of the opposing team and in that battle, the Nets made enough plays spearheaded by Williams who led the charge.

With the Nets leading by three, 90-87 with 4:16 to go a missed Jefferson jumper allowed the Nets to get out on the break.

Williams pushed the ball to the top of the key and dished it to G Joe Johnson the trailer for a three point shot attempt which he missed only to be rewarded with another field goal attempt due to the offensive rebound by Williams who kicked it back to Johnson, this time draining it increasing the Nets lead to five 92-87.

The Bobcats answered with a dunk via G Gerald Henderson cutting the lead to three 92-89 with 3:27 remaining until the resolution.

The ball finds Johnson again on the right baseline guarded by Henderson which he posted up only to fade-away off of Henderson's pressure netting yet another basket, edging the Bobcats now by five, 94-89 with 3 min remaining in the 4th.

On the following possession, Henderson drains a three pointer assisted by G Gary Neal with 2:46 left in the 4th coming to within two points shy of a tie trailing the Nets 92-94.

In close games, teams rely on their stars to influence the final outcome of a game, and this moment belonged to Williams as his contract warrants that responsibility to put the Nets over the top as all else fails.

He did not have to go far as the ball found him and he delivered as he should.

With the Nets clinging to a three-point lead as the 1 min mark passed, the crowd stood on its feet growing louder with each passing second as Williams stared down his defender, applied a crossover hesitation dribble and pulled-up for a jump-shot locating the Net without and trouble from the rim as the Nets grabbed a 5-point lead, 100-95 grabbing control of the game for good.

Williams led all scorers accumulating 25 points and 8 assists as his back-court mate in Johnson complimented his cause adding 20 points, grabbing 8 rebounds.

High scorers for the Bobcats featured Jefferson who was neutralized in the second half finishing with 18 points and Neal who finished with 17.

Williams performance grants him the player of the game award and Kidd took notice.

"Deron took control of the game," Kidd expressed to media correspondents in his post-game press conference.

Regarding his team's efforts Kidd continued saying, "They didn't panic, they stayed the course and executed on both ends when it mattered."

This win propelled the Nets past the Washington Wizards in the eastern conference standings as the Nets are now positioned as the 5th seed behind the Chicago Bulls.

Due to the Eastern Conference experiencing a down year, the Nets have an opportunity to seize the Bulls spot as the 4th seed as long as they continue to win and pray for the Bulls demise which is very unlikely.

Over the next five games, the Nets will face teams who contain a combined record of 150-192, which include the Boston Celtics, the Dallas Mavericks, New Orleans Pelicans, Cleveland Cavaliers and the Bobcats once more for the final time this season.

Based on talent alone, the Nets should be able to handle their business against the teams previously listed.

As for Brooklyn, a Nets win translates to a comfortable slumber.

Kidd Leads Nets to Record-Setting January

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jason Kidd has been named the NBA's Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for January after leading the Nets to a 10-3 record, the league announced today.

This marks the first Coach of the Month honor for Kidd in his first season as a head coach. The Nets' 10-3 (.769) record in January marked the best winning percentage for the month of January in the franchise's 38 NBA seasons.

However, it was not too long ago, that some thought Kidd should be fired.

Let's take a walk back. At the start of the NBA season, many were critical of the Brooklyn Nets management for hiring Jason Kidd as an NBA head coach. After all, he had just retired as a player from the New York Knicks only a few weeks prior to the head coach announcement.
Kidd lacked experience said his detractors.

As the regular season got into full swing and the Brooklyn Nets went on a downward spiral losing game after game, the naysayers amplified the chatter for the firing of the rookie coach.

With the Nets on a losing streak and many calling for the proverbial hammer to come down, Kidd made a decisive turn in early December; he demoted his primary assistant, Lawrence Frank, by "reassigning" him to report-filing duties.

The Nets fortunes didn't turnaround on a dime and the team continued to experience misfortunes in December.
Center Brook Lopez broke his foot in December. There was also the embarrassing 95-78 Christmas Day loss to the Chicago Bulls.

On December 31, The Nets left the court early during a blowout loss to the Spurs on December 31, forcing Kidd to take a timeout so that he could retrieve them from the locker room.

With a new year, often come new resolutions; and the Brooklyn Nets as a team must have decided to resolve to win in the new year.

The Nets strung together two five-game winning streaks under the first year head coach's guidance and held nine of their 13 opponents under 100 points, resulting in eight victories. Brooklyn also won four of five road games in January, including a buzzer-beating victory to begin the month at Oklahoma City January 2.

Kidd, who won NBA Player of the Month honors twice as a member of the Nets (November 2001 and December 2002) and once as a member of the Phoenix Suns (April 1999) becomes the fourth person in NBA history to win both coach and player of the month honors, joining Larry Bird, Larry Drew and Jeff Hornacek. Kidd also becomes the second person to win both honors with the same franchise, joining Hornacek, who captured both honors with the Suns, including Coach of the Month in December 2013.

Kidd becomes the fourth head coach in franchise history to earn Coach of the Month honors, joining Avery Johnson (November 2012), four-time winner Lawrence Frank (February 2004, April 2005, March 2006 and April 2007) and two-time winner Byron Scott (December 2002 and December 2003).

Speaking of Avery Johnson, even though he won Eastern Conference Coach of the Month in November 2012, Nets management lost patience with the team's struggles and fired Johnson the following month in December 2012.

Following the most notable sporting event of the season in the Super Bowl, which took place in a land not too far away in the state of New Jersey; the Brooklyn Nets returned home to host the Philadelphia 76ers orchestrating a 108-102 victory on a snowy evening providing a cozy and fun-filled environment for the Brooklyn faithful.

This win progresses the Nets to 21-25 on the overall season, as they continue to work their way back to mediocrity, .500.

The Nets snapped their 3-game losing streak against a lowly opponent, all in all validating the honor that their first-year Head Coach in Jason Kidd received today in Coach of the Month, for compiling a record of 10-3 in January.

The Nets accomplished what the Broncos failed to, despite the difference in sports, circumstances and setting, a win, plain and simple.

Missing tonight's action was guard Joe Johnson suffering from tendinitis in his right patella; also C Andray Blatche, and Forward Andrei Kirilenko recorded DNP's, coach's decision. Given this scenario, the Nets needed a significant offensive contribution as thin as they appeared to be.

They received that contribution from a variety of places tonight.

From the opening tip, the Nets led throughout the majority of the first half until the 76ers reclaimed the lead for the first time this evening with 6:25 left in the second quarter, via two free-throws from 76ers guard Michael Carter Williams. This gave the Sixers a lead of 35-33 with more than 6 minutes left until halftime.

Philadelphia flashed its youth, enabling a run in which it eliminated the Nets lead early within the second quarter. However, the Nets capitalized on a back-and-forth pace later down the stretch.

An alley-oop conversion courtesy of G Shaun Livingston, assisted by F Paul Pierce and a theft by Livingston rewarding Pierce on back-to-back fast breaks pushed the Nets advantage over the Sixers, 54-49 heading into the intermission period.

The synergy established by the Nets towards the end of the first half carried over to the start of the second half as the Nets held the Sixers to within 4 points through the first four minutes.

With the increase in defensive pressure, the Nets manufactured a 13-3 run extending their lead, 67-54 with eight minutes remaining in the third quarter. The run, energized collectively and individually, by G Deron Williams who caught fire in the 3rd. Williams scored 12 points in the third quarter alone, as he returned back to the starting lineup.

The Nets gained their largest lead of the game by far, up by as many as 17 points, when Journey man G Jason Terry connected for three, on the right wing with 2:37 remaining till the start of the fourth. This put the home team in front 81-64.

The 4th quarter decides the outcome of each and every organized basketball game, and like any team would, the Sixers made their run.

A strong surge by rookie of the year candidate Williams and fellow youngster G Tony Wroten combined for a series of layups and perimeter shots reducing the Nets lead to 6, 97-91 with 6:15 left until the end of regulation.

A Lavoy Allen jumper assisted by Williams from the top of the key with 3:41 remaining in the 4th, brought the Sixers within 2, 97-95, to which the Nets responded by scoring 7 straight points, capped off by F Mirza Teletovic connecting for three 97-89.

The Sixers continued to fight, and exhibited their best effort in the closing moments, only to come up short and the ball bouncing the Brooklyn way.

With 40.8 seconds remaining a loose ball that the Nets failed to claim gave the Sixers life and enough time to draw up a play that left Anderson alone in the corner for which he connected for three giving the Sixers another chance down by 2 with 22.8 seconds remaining nets 104-102.

But without leverage, the Sixers were forced to foul sending Pierce to the line, which resulted in two made free-throws and 6 seconds later a steal by Livingston and foul generated the same result in two additional free throws further advancing the Nets to a final 108-102 win over the Sixers.

Even in victory, Pierce was unsatisfied like a true champion, desiring more from his fellow teammates in the future games to come.

"You can't be happy with the way we closed the game," Pierce articulated to post game media correspondents in the Nets Locker-room.

"We gave up layups, threes," Pierce continues.

"We were up 20, up 19 and let them back in the game,..If we play like that come Thursday then we can't expect to walk away with a win."

Pierce is alluding to Thursday night's contest where the Nets will continue their home-stand in welcoming the franchise spearheading the Southwest division in the San Antonio Spurs. If the Nets want a "W" against the Spurs, a complete 48 minutes of play from the Nets is essential and required to defend their home-court.

Pierce also dished in on the inspirational play of back-court teammate Livingston who contributed 13 points, 6 rebounds, and 8 assists, as well as, getting after it defensively, a pest in the passing lanes with 7 steals. Livingston has recorded back-to-back games of six or more steals a feat not accomplished by a Net since Kendall Gill in 1999.

"He's a guy who's gaining confidence week by week," Pierce expresses to the post game media

"He believes in his ability; whatever we ask of him he's given it to us," Pierce added.

With Johnson's questionable medical status Livingston will definitely receive every opportunity to fill the void offensively and defensively in the starting unit, something he is very capable of doing acknowledged by Kidd.

"He's playing at a high level and we need him to do that," said Kidd in his post-game press conference.

"He's involved and he is in tune and we need him to do that," Kidd continued.

"Right now he's on that consistent role that we need."

Williams wasn't too shabby at all with his overall performance, pouring in the second most scoring output behind Pierce's 25 with 21 points and 6 timely assists working his way back to the starting lineup where he belongs and should remain as he is the $90 million man.

For the time being, the Nets warmed up the Barclays Center despite the wrath of the winter season. But in the end, for the Nets to sustain positive production they must get healthy with any hope of locking up the Atlantic Division.

Jason Kidd pointed out that mistakes happen all the time when asked about Williams' turnover that caused the Brooklyn Nets team to walk back to their locker rooms somber and blue.

Okay. So back-pedal to the last 20 seconds of the game. Williams had just taken an offensive charge after Kyle Lowry went up for a hard layup. Brooklyn was already up 101-100. After a timeout was called, Williams attempted to throw the ball inbound. He had two choices--throw it to Paul Pierce or force a pass to Joe Johnson. Williams chose to toss it to Johnson, and Patrick Patterson stole the ball and scored.

So there you have it---the seasoned veteran (and choke artist) blew the game.

After the game, a disappointed Williams, who committed two turnovers in the final 22 seconds knew what he had done.

"I turned it over, didn't have any timeouts," Williams said. "I pretty much saw everybody was covered on the first couple of options, kind of saw Joe (Johnson) open but just made a bad pass."

"It's tough. It definitely hurts, but we got three days (before our next game) to think about it, that makes it worse. Nothing I can do now, can't take it back. It's not the first time turning the ball over to lose the game and it probably won't be my last," Williams continued.

Fans on Twitter bashed Williams for making a rookie move.

"Horrible end of the game turnover by Deron Williams....I remember when he could be mentioned with CP3....no more!"

"Kyle Lowry is a better player than Deron Williams. Turnover or not, I hope this game proved that to everybody."

The Nets' loss snapped a seven-game winning streak for the Nets who now fall to 10-2 in 2014, thanks to two losses against the Raptors.

Despite the loss, the team is prepared to move on and will support Williams.

"We as players and as teammates, we want to make sure that the confidence is high around here, and you just don't get that sitting in your locker by yourself," Kevin Garnett said. "We talk about the game. We talk about what each other saw, and the perspectives, and next time we're in that position, what can we do to get better? And it was a positive conversation. With Deron, we as teammates are going to support each other, and tonight was no different from that."

Check Out Love, Mob Wives and Boxing

This episode of What's The 411 features:

• Boxer Zab Judah (Interviewed by Andrew Rosario)
• Boxer Bernard Hopkins (Interviewed by Andrew Rosario)
• DJ Enuff (Interviewed by Andrew Rosario)
• Jason Kidd Press Conference (Interviewed by Andrew Rosario)
• Ramona Rizzo, Mob Wives (Interviewed by Barbara Bullard)
• Love Majewski, Mob Wives (Interviewed by Barbara Bullard)
• Penny Karagiogis, Celebrity Hairstylist (Interviewed by Barbara Bullard)
• Filmmakers Ramfis Myrthil and Adam Lawrence; Love and the Small Print (interviewed T.A. Moreland)
• Throwback Interview: 90s R&B Duo Terri & Monica (Interviewed by Amelia Moore)

This episode is hosted by Kizzy Cox and Crystal Henderson.

The script was written by Donna Leslie and Ramona Miles.

Vivica Fox supports Justin Tuck’s Celebrity Billiard's Tournament benefiting Tuck's R.U.S.H for Literacy and the United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund

Actress and television producer, Vivica A. Fox, checked in with What's The 411's reporter, Crystal Lynn on the red carpet at New York Giants Justin Tuck's annual Celebrity Billiards Tournament. With a little hilarity, Vivica ribs Crystal Lynn about her fashion question, as she was expecting the first question to be about Justin Tuck's literacy initiative. In true Vivica Fox form, she made clear her expectations about how she wanted to finish the tournament, the importance of Justin Tuck's R.U.S.H. for Literacy initiative and at the end, Vivica poses and gives a shout out to a New York City police officer who was standing by taking photos.

New York Giants' Justin Tuck hosted his annual Tuck's Celebrity Billiard's Tournament presented by RXR, a leading New York Tri-State real estate operating company, on Thursday, May 30 at Slate NYC.

The event has been a popular fundraiser in Manhattan for the past four years. More than 35 celebrities were expected to take part in a single elimination 8 ball tournament, emceed by well-known actor Anthony Anderson, in which the winner will receive the Grand Prize Luxury Package that will benefit Tuck's R.U.S.H for Literacy and the United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund.

Tuck, a Defensive End for the New York Giants, started his R.U.S.H for Literacy (Read. Understand. Succeed. Hope.) charity in 2008 in hopes of providing children with the necessary resources to improve their reading skills. Thus far, 10,000 students in the Tri-State and Central Alabama communities have received new books and other materials. The Tucks have donated over 55,000 books and raised over $1.5 million dollars since the charity's inception. They have also supported other non-profit organization by donating over $150,000 in grants. This year $25,000 of the Celebrity Billiards' net proceeds will be going to the United Way Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund as well.

In addition to Vivica Fox, other celebrities that What's The 411 caught up with at Justin Tuck's Celebrity Billiard's Tournament included: Justin Tuck; former NBA Basketball Player, Jason Kidd; actor, comedian, and writer, Anthony Anderson; Meeka Claxton, wife of Craig "Speedy" Claxton and former star of VH1's Basketball Wives; former New York Knicks Guard John Starks; professional pool player, Jeanette "The Black Widow" Lee; and Jared Fogle (better known as Jared the subway guy).