The Brooklyn Nets got back up on their feet this week as they racked up a handful of wins to climb back up the Eastern Conference standings. The Nets currently hold a 9-10 record and are placed eighth amongst the rest of the Eastern Conference.
A Close One in Charlotte
The Nets won a close game against the Charlotte Hornets in a 116-115 victory after trailing by 14 points heading into the second quarter. Led by Cam Johnson and Dennis Schroder, the duo combined for 48 points to bring the Nets back and win. The Nets struggled to defend the perimeter in the first quarter when the Hornets were 8-of-12 from the three-pointer. The first six shots attempted were three-pointers, whereas five were made for Charlotte.
TOTAL TEAM WIN! 🫡 pic.twitter.com/9o1iPlRLlt
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 20, 2024
Six players from the Nets were in double-digit scoring for the night and never faltered despite trailing throughout the game. The Nets gained momentum to take the lead in the third quarter, but the Hornets continued to drain their shots and keep it close. Trendon Watford’s seven points in the final two minutes helped seal the win for the Nets after getting a defensive stop to prevent a game-tying three-pointer by Tre Mann.
Johnson’s 34 points and Dennis Schroder’s 14 points and 12 assists were pivotal in the win, along with Jalen Wilson’s 17 points, Dorian Finney-Smith’s 15 points, Ben Simmons’ 10 points, and Trendon Watford’s 10 points off the bench.
Tough Love In Philly
The Nets could not beat a struggling 76ers team on Friday in a 113 to 98 loss. The 76ers had snapped a five-game losing streak after having a tough start to their season. Due to injury, the 76ers were without superstars Joel Embiid and Paul George. The 76ers were led by rookie sensation Jared McCain and his 30 points for the night. Tyrese Maxey also contributed offensively with 26 points as well. The Nets could not hold onto the ball and were awful in the turnover column for the night with 19, leading to 28 points for the 76ers off of those turnovers. An offensive rally by the 76ers tore open a 12-point deficit for the Nets that they could not get out of.
CamJ getting it going early with 10 points 🔥 pic.twitter.com/XQnrwKjHaL
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 23, 2024
Johnson was once again the Nets’ leading scorer with 37 points, but they lacked an offensive backup. Cam Thomas was the only other player in the starting lineup with double-digit points, with 18 points. Nic Claxton stepped up for the bench with 12 points and 8 rebounds, but it was not enough to take down Philadelphia.
No Beam For Sacramento
The Sacramento Kings failed to light up the beam on Sunday night after the Nets claimed a 108 to 103 win. It was Jordi Fernandez’s first visit to Sacramento after being named Nets’ head coach, where he served as the associate coach for the Kings in the last two seasons. Despite a near 20-point deficit being taken away by the Kings, the Nets were able to hold the Kings to 15 points in the fourth quarter to secure the close win. Noah Clowney was removed from the game after a left ankle sprained, which has him currently sidelined.
De’Aaron Fox’s 31 points and Keegan Murray’s 21 points were not enough to gain a victory against the Nets. The rest of the Kings’ starters played well offensively as they all scored double-digit for the night, including 18 rebounds to add to the 13 points put up by Domantas Sabonis. Keon Ellis was the only one to score for the Kings’ bench with 9 points.
TEAM WIN 🫡 pic.twitter.com/kG1s9xrp5K
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 25, 2024
Thomas and Johnson took charge offensively, with Thomas’ 34 points and Johnson’s 16 points for the Nets. The Nets’ bench had stepped up as well, with Clowney’s 18 points before getting sidelined and Shake Milton’s 10 points.
Another NorCal Victory
The Nets grabbed their second straight win after a 128 to 120 lead against the Golden State Warriors. Schroder proved to be the better point guard tonight after leading the Nets with 31 points after trailing by as much as 18 points in the third quarter. Stephen Curry’s 28 points weren’t enough to carry the Warriors to victory, as the Nets were able to create great opportunities to score. The Warriors struggled to stop the rallying Nets and could not get up high in the box score outside of Andrew Wiggins’ 18 points and 13 for Lindy Waters III.
Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, and Jalen Wilson contributed to the Nets’ victorious rally led by Schroder with 23, 19, and 18 points, respectively. The Nets were down a few men, notably Ben Simmons, Nicolas Claxton, and Noah Clowney. Despite being without their big men, the Nets were only out-rebounded by one against the Warriors (43 to 42). The Nets began picking up the pace after a Jalen Wilson dunk sparked the comeback.
complete team effort đź’Ş pic.twitter.com/msJk45800y
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 26, 2024
Williams, Milton, Schroder, and Thomas slowly built up a lead throughout the second half and maintained it after Williams made a pair of free throws. The Warriors could not stop the momentum, and some flashy plays by Curry, Wiggins, and Draymond Green were not enough to put Brooklyn away.
Back-To-Back-To-Back Wins
The Nets rolled into the next matchup against the Phoenix Suns with momentum with a 127 to 117 win. The Nets were riddled with injuries and on-paper looked like they would lose, but a few Nets rose to the occasion. Tyrese Martin scored a career-high 30 points, with Schroder backing him up with 29 points of his own to lead Brooklyn. Martin was 10 of 13 from the field, including 8 of 10 from 3-point range. A 30-point performance by Devin Booker and 31 points by Kevin Durant weren’t enough for Phoenix.
THIS TEAM pic.twitter.com/T5AYUuAC5B
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 28, 2024
The Suns played slippery basketball with 17 turnovers for the night, and the Nets turned those turnovers into 24 points. The Nets were capable of keeping a cushioned double-digit lead heading into the fourth quarter and prevented a comeback by Phoenix. Suns star Bradley Beal could not hold up his end as he only put up 17 points, unable to get close to a 30-point game like his contemporaries.
What’s Next For The Nets
The Nets look to have great chemistry amongst each other and have a willingness to win despite being riddled with injuries. The lack of Nicolas Claxton and Cam Thomas should’ve tanked the Nets, but they proved otherwise. These injuries may backfire on the Nets next week as they will face the 13-7 Orlando Magic in a back-to-back matchup which could hurt their momentum in the games afterward. For now, the Nets can look towards the upside as they kept themselves in the middle of the pack amongst a stacked Eastern Conference.
