WHAT IT MEANS: Deron Williams put the Nets (6-13, 4-8 road) on his back, played like a superstar, and carried them to 97-90 overtime victory over the first-place Sixers (12-6, 8-2 home) in what was without question his and their best game of the season on Wednesday night in Philadelphia. Must have been the headband.

D-Will scored 17 of his game-high 34 points in the fourth quarter and overtime -- including a ridiculous fadeaway jumper and stepback 3-pointer that proved to be the difference -- and added 11 assists as the Nets closed the game with nine straight points. Williams’ decision-making was impeccable all evening. He finished 14-for-28 from the field, 3-for-7 from 3-point range and added four rebounds.

D-Will threw down a one-handed dunk in the first quarter, and his layup with 1.3 seconds left in regulation sent the game into the extra session. The Nets now have one fewer road victory in 2011-12 than they had all of last season (5-36). They were playing without rookie MarShon Brooks, who missed his second straight game with a sore left Achilles.

HUMP DAY: Kris Humphries recorded his seventh double-double, scoring 13 points while grabbing a season-high 19 rebounds -- including six on the offensive glass. He even got a bit physical inside with Lou Williams in the third quarter, hacking the Sixers guard on a drive to the rim. Williams wasn’t pleased.

STRONG START: The Nets got off to a 9-2 lead in the first quarter and took a 22-18 edge into the second period, just the fourth time in 19 games they’ve led after one.

PLAY OF THE NIGHT: Shawne Williams banked in a shot beyond half court to end the third quarter, which put the Nets up 66-61.

STATS OF THE NIGHT: For the first time this season, the Nets shot a better percentage than their opponents: 45.1 percent to 44.3 percent. The Nets outrebounded the Sixers, 45-37, and held them to just five fastbreak points -- 12.4 below their average. The Nets also shot 12-for-27 from 3-point range after going 17-for-69 from downtown in their previous three games.

UP NEXT: Nets at Cavaliers, Friday night, 7:30 p.m.