Three nights after snapping a seven-game dropping streak in Charlotte, the Nets traveled to Houston and went band-for-band with the No. 2 seed within the West. Ziaire Williams was in all places. Day’Ron Sharpe was dropping shoulders and snatching chains. Ime Udoka’s guys have been shook.
Sharpe performed simply 10 minutes in Wednesday’s 104-83 win — left hamstring tightness ended his night time within the second quarter — however man, he introduced the growth in Brooklyn’s 110-98 defeat of the Rockets on Saturday at Toyota Heart.
Sharpe was simply outworking guys. After checking in for Nic Claxton with beneath 5 to play within the first quarter, his exercise was unmatched. He moved our bodies, snatched rebounds, and completed by means of contact. A turnaround 18-footer because the shot clock expired showcased some finesse.
The Nets needed to be the extra bodily group to have any probability in Houston and Sharpe set the tone — and his effort was contagious. Subsequent factor , his teammates are flying round defensively and answering each Rockets bucket. The ball discovered the new hand and Houston couldn’t hold Williams off the rim.
The Rockets, who gained 4 of 5 getting into the night time, have been overwhelmed. Brooklyn ended the primary half with 12 straight factors and went into the locker room up 53-38, a season low for Houston. Sharpe was the spark for a bench unit that outscored the Rockets’ reserves 19-14 by means of two quarters of play, and a dominant group effort within the paint.
It was the Nets’ third-largest halftime margin of the season, however arguably their greatest contemplating the opponent. Brooklyn got here to play, and the Rockets appeared misplaced. The Nets remained the aggressors within the third quarter, and it was an 83-64 recreation getting into the ultimate body. By the point Houston left the launch pad, it was too late.
The Rockets acquired punk’d in their very own constructing. Jalen Inexperienced completed with a game-high 29 factors, however did it on a forty five.8% clip, and was the lone Houston participant in double figures getting into the fourth quarter — a testomony to the Nets’ smothering protection. They restricted them to 40% capturing for the sport.
Sharpe, who completed with 13 factors, 4 rebounds and one block in 17 minutes, left his signature on the night time along with his fifth 3-pointer of the season. Ziarie Williams added 21 factors, eight rebounds and loads of nasty dunks. It was his greatest all-around efficiency since November.
The Nets, streaking once more with back-to-back wins, improved to 16-33. They fell to sixth place within the lottery standings, 2.5 video games again of fourth and 4 video games again of third.
They’ll run it again towards this similar Rockets group on Tuesday at Barclays Heart.
