One other evening, one other setback. The Nets dropped to 1-10 after a 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday at Barclays Middle, becoming a member of the Washington Wizards as the primary groups within the league to hit double-digit defeats.
However even on an evening when Jordi Fernández’s workforce shot simply 39.5% from the sector, 34.1% from 3-point vary and gave up 68 factors within the paint whereas lacking backup middle Day’Ron Sharpe, the eighth general choose within the 2025 NBA Draft nonetheless gave followers one thing to cheer about, making it back-to-back video games the place a Nets rookie has impressed.
“I know some people around here were asking me questions about 2s, and now you guys have seen it,” Fernández mentioned of rookie guard Egor Demin. “You guys have seen now he can pass the ball, he can get into the paint, he can shoot the 3s. So, all those things we want to keep seeing, and there’s not a better way to do it with him than more minutes.”
Brooklyn’s offense began sharp behind Noah Clowney’s 12-point first quarter and Nic Claxton’s regular inside presence. Rookie Drake Powell dealt with just a few possessions as the first ball handler, exhibiting flashes of management regardless of a turnover and a few misplaced dribbles because the Nets combined lineups. They shot 58.8% within the opening interval and held Toronto to 45.8%, however a 7-0 Raptors run to shut the quarter lower what had been a nine-point lead down to 2 coming into the second.
Rookie guard Egor Demin, making his third straight begin at level, carried the momentum early within the subsequent body. After hitting his first two photographs, he stayed sizzling with two extra 3-pointers and a steal, scoring a team-high six factors within the quarter. Demin opened 4-for-4 from the sector and 3-for-3 from deep, ending the primary half with 11 factors in 14 minutes.
He closed the evening with a career-high 16 factors, 4 rebounds and 5 assists in 28 minutes with only one turnover, exhibiting extra confidence attacking the rim, even making an attempt a two-handed baseline dunk early within the third. The finishes weren’t there, however the aggression was an indication of rising consolation as he learns to learn angles and soak up contact.
“He’s trying to figure it out… He’s learning when to attack, when to get downhill. Of course, he has a really long way to go, but he’s taking a lot of good strides in the right direction, and I’ll keep an open dialogue with him so we can keep figuring it out together,” Claxton mentioned.
It was a quieter evening for Powell after his career-best outing in opposition to the Knicks on Sunday, as he completed with six factors, one rebound, three assists and two steals in 22 minutes off the bench. Fellow rookies Ben Saraf and Danny Wolf, each recalled from Lengthy Island on Monday, didn’t test in till rubbish time and completed with two factors apiece.
“Noah has the experience right now,” Fernández mentioned when requested why Wolf didn’t see extra minutes at middle. “The opportunities will come for everybody. This is my decision. I just went with Noah because I’ve seen him multiple times.”
Regardless of Demin’s spark and Claxton’s consistency, Brooklyn’s offense sputtered within the second quarter. The Nets shot solely 34.8%, dedicated three turnovers and have been outscored 32-22, falling behind 60-52 at halftime. Terance Mann was the one starter not in double figures at halftime, whereas the bench provided little assist and the workforce continued to battle from past the arc.
Brooklyn trailed by as many as 14 factors within the third quarter, trimmed the deficit to 2 with 1:30 remaining, however allowed the Raptors to shut on an 8-2 run that stretched the lead again to eight coming into the fourth. Toronto outscored Brooklyn 30-28 within the closing quarter, simply sufficient to maintain the Nets at arm’s size.
“We just didn’t string together enough stops,” Claxton mentioned. “I thought our process was right tonight, though.”
Claxton and Michael Porter Jr. every completed with 21 factors, although Claxton shot 8-for-14 whereas Porter went simply 5-for-14. Ziaire Williams struggled off the bench, lacking all eight of his makes an attempt. Brandon Ingram led the Raptors with 25 factors, 5 rebounds and 4 assists.
The Nets return to motion Friday in opposition to the Orlando Magic at Kia Middle.
