The Nets had the No. 1 protection within the NBA over their final 10 video games coming into the All-Star break, and didn’t skip a beat at that finish of the courtroom on Thursday in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers. However offense remained a battle all through of their 110-97 loss in opposition to the No. 1 seed within the Japanese Convention at Barclays Heart.
Cam Thomas‘ return can’t come quickly sufficient. Brooklyn desperately wants his shot creation.
“Personnel-wise and considering Cam’s out, I feel like some of the offensive struggles will be expected,” Trendon Watford instructed reporters after Wednesday’s follow. “Having the best defense in the league and then having one of the worst offenses in the league, I guess it’s a give and take.”
Each groups shot below 35% within the first quarter, however the Cavaliers made two extra 3-pointers than Brooklyn and had a five-point edge on the free throw line. The guests led 24-19 lead coming into the second quarter.
The Nets’ early deficit may’ve been worse if it weren’t for Keon Johnson’s scorching begin. He led all scorers with eight factors within the first quarter on 4-for-7 taking pictures. His teammates shot a mixed 5-for-20 within the opening quarter.
Nonetheless, Cam Jonson and Nic Claxton discovered their rhythm within the second quarter, and Watford offered a much-needed offensive increase off the bench — all with out sacrificing their defensive depth.
The Nets, who trailed by as many as eight factors within the second quarter, shot 11-for-22 within the interval (50%) whereas limiting Cleveland to 33.3% taking pictures. They went 20-for-50 from the sphere total within the first half (40%) and dedicated 12 turnovers however went into the locker room main 50-48 due to sturdy protection and 15-3 edge in second-chance factors.
Cleveland was restricted to 16-for-46 taking pictures within the first half (34.8%) and dedicated 11 turnovers. Each groups missed a mixed 31 treys over the primary 24 minutes.
Brooklyn struggled on protection within the third quarter, permitting 14 factors from Donovan Mitchell in a 56% taking pictures effort for the Cavaliers. Each Johnsons went a mixed 6-for-9 within the interval however the Nets didn’t get a lot offense outdoors of them.
Tied at 69 with 4:26 left within the third quarter, Cleveland went on a 14-8 run to take an 83-77 lead into the ultimate body. The Nets have been up 5 factors with 8:39 left within the third quarter, however after D’Angelo Russell limped off due to a proper ankle sprain, they gave up 11 unanswered factors.
Russell didn’t return to the sport. After that, momentum swung within the Cavaliers’ favor for good, as they outscored the Nets 27-20 within the fourth quarter to earn their forty fifth win of the season.
“We don’t know if he’s going to be out or not, so once that happens, we’ll figure it out,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned when requested in regards to the Nets’ level guard rotation if Russell is compelled to overlook video games. “We’ve never had problems with having the next-man-up mentality, and if that’s the case, I trust Killian and Trendon to run the team and help the team. Same as Tyrese [Martin].”
Coming into the evening, the Nets had received six of seven video games courting again to Jan. 29. They noticed their three-game win streak snapped on Thursday in a sport the place they shot simply 40% from the sphere and dedicated 16 turnovers. Cleveland wasn’t a lot better at 42.6% for the sport, however had a 25-15 benefit in fastbreak factors and a 19-11 edge on the free throw line.
“I think we had a lot of effort today,” Cam Johnson mentioned. “We just have to be able to execute at a high level for 48 [minutes].”
Cam and Keon Johnson scored a mixed 34 factors on 14-for-30 taking pictures. Watford added 13 factors, 4 rebounds and three assists off the bench, marking his fourth straight sport reaching double figures. Nic Claxton completed with three blocked photographs, extending his season-best streak of video games with a number of blocked photographs to 6.
Mitchell led the Cavaliers with 26 factors, 5 rebounds and two assists, and Darius Garland added 18 factors. Killian Hayes, who signed a 10-day contract with the Nets on Thursday, contributed 5 factors and three assists off the bench and was minus-7 in simply over 21 minutes.
Brooklyn will return to motion on Saturday in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers at Wells Fargo Heart.
Initially Revealed: February 20, 2025 at 10:17 PM EST
