Noah Clowney delivered one other breakout efficiency with 29 factors and profession highs in free throws made (10) and tried (12), but it surely nonetheless wasn’t sufficient. The Utah Jazz surged within the fourth quarter to snap Brooklyn’s two-game win streak and ship the Nets to 5-17 after a 123-110 win.
And for many of the night time, it seemed like Brooklyn had accomplished sufficient to increase that streak.
Clowney picked up proper the place he left off in Chicago, burying three first-quarter 3-pointers and scoring 14 factors to assist Brooklyn offset some early capturing struggles. The Nets defended nicely once more, holding Utah to 40% from the sphere and forcing three turnovers, and a 9–2 bench-scoring edge pushed the result in 29–20 after one. Clowney’s 14 factors tied the highest-scoring quarter of his profession.
Brooklyn stretched the margin to fifteen halfway by the second behind Ziaire Williams’ scoring spark and a Danny Wolf triple, however Utah countered with a fast 3-point barrage, with 4 makes in simply over two minutes, to chop the result in 4. The Nets responded by tightening the protection and attacking the paint, outscoring Utah 13–8 the remainder of the half to take a 58–49 lead into the break. Each Wolf and Egor Dëmin knocked down well timed 3s through the run.
Terance Mann, again within the lineup after a two-game absence, took a tough fall late within the second quarter however returned to begin the third and gave the impression to be transferring nicely. His free throws and connective play helped Brooklyn navigate the early turbulence of the interval earlier than the Nets’ bench seized management late.
Brooklyn’s nine-point cushion didn’t maintain for lengthy within the third, as early turnovers and missed 3s allowed Keyonte George warmth up and slash the result in one possession. However the Nets countered with their bigs. Clowney steadied the offense on the line, Wolf added seven factors and a giant pick-and-pop triple, and Day’Ron Sharpe’s work inside helped re-establish management of the sport.
From there, the Nets’ vitality took over. They pressured 5 turnovers and turned a number of into runouts, highlighted by a Ben Saraf steal-and-score that pushed the lead again to 9. Clowney capped his nine-point quarter with a driving end by contact, and Wolf added one other layup, giving Brooklyn a 90–81 lead heading into the fourth.
However as soon as once more, the lead didn’t final. The sport was tied at 98 with 7:12 remaining, and moments later Utah had its first lead for the reason that opening quarter. The Jazz saved pushing, finally constructing their largest benefit of the night time, a nine-point cushion with 3:39 left, after back-to-back 3s from Kyle Filipowski and Lauri Markkanen.
Ultimately, the Nets shot simply 35% within the closing quarter and dedicated seven turnovers, whereas Utah outscored them 42-20, shot 63.6% and hit six 3s. Markkanen scored 10 of his game-high 30 factors within the interval, and George added 29 factors and 10 assists to gas the Jazz’s comeback.
The loss spoiled an amazing night time for Brooklyn’s bench, which outscored Utah’s reserves 63–37, with Williams (23), Wolf (17), Sharpe (10) and Saraf (12) all ending in double figures. After the sport, head coach Jordi Fernández revealed that Dëmin had been battling higher respiratory points all through the night, leading to his restricted utilization.
The Nets are again at Barclays Middle on Saturday to face the New Orleans Pelicans.
