Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez was annoyed with the staff’s effort on protection within the second half of Monday’s 128-102 street loss to the Chicago Bulls. He appropriately ripped his gamers on the podium postgame.
In Wednesday’s 99-90 defeat of the Indiana Pacers at Barclays Middle, they almost let go of the rope once more however stepped up on protection when it mattered most down the stretch.
Whereas the Nets had been as soon as once more with out two common starters in Cam Thomas and Dorian Finney-Smith, and two key reserves in Noah Clowney and Ziaire Williams, they leaned on protection early, holding Indiana to 33.3% capturing within the first half regardless of capturing simply 38.3% from the sphere themselves.
Brooklyn made 9 of its 12 whole 3-pointers over the primary 24 minutes of motion and turned 12 Pacers turnovers into 14 factors. It added as much as a commanding 51-35 lead at halftime regardless of poor staff capturing. The Nets led by as many as 21 factors within the second quarter, their second-largest benefit in a sport this season and their largest at any level in a primary half this season.
“I think it started with our defense,” Shake Milton mentioned. “We were in gaps and in our shifts, and our strategy is, we want to pick up 94-feet, we want to be aggressive, ball pressure. But when you’re doing that in the NBA, guys are good, so you have to have help, you have to have guys in the right position. We were doing that. We were stopping them. They were taking tough shots, and we were able to get the ball and run on offense.”
Cam Johnson had 17 factors on 4-of-11 capturing within the first half (4-of-8 from deep) whereas no different Internet had greater than 10. No gamers reached double figures in scoring for the Pacers within the first half.
Much like Monday’s loss, the third quarter was the place Brooklyn misplaced management of the sport. It was outscored 35-24 within the interval. The entire sudden Indiana’s T.J. McConnell couldn’t miss, and Tyrese Haliburton began to search out his groove as nicely in a 63.2% staff capturing effort. Johnson went 2-of-2 from deep within the third quarter however the Nets couldn’t discover a lot offense outdoors of him.
After giving up 12 factors within the paint within the first half, the Nets surrendered 14 factors within the paint within the third quarter alone. They clung to a 75-70 lead coming into the ultimate body. What was as soon as a 21-point benefit was shaved down to at least one with 9:16 left.
Nonetheless, the Pacers couldn’t end their rally. Brooklyn — led by Milton, Ben Simmons, Trendon Watford, Jalen Wilson and Day’Ron Sharpe — responded with a 17-8 run to grab again management of the sport at 94-84 with 3:22 left. It cruised the remainder of the way in which, fueled by the reserves.
“I wasn’t really debating,” Fernandez mentioned when requested about his choice relating to who would shut the sport. “Because once those guys made their run, their teammates were the ones saying, ‘We’re not sitting them, they’re doing great. They’re making their run. Just stay with them.’”
Johnson led the Nets with a game-high 26 factors 7-of-18 capturing (7-of-13 from deep). It was his ninth sport with no less than 20 factors this season, and with one other, he’ll tie a profession greatest. It was additionally his fourth sport with no less than six 3-pointers. He’s now the franchise chief in factors scored with no two-point discipline aim.
“And let me just say it was not intentional by any means,” Johnson mentioned.
Nic Claxton added 16 factors and eight rebounds. Milton led all reserves with 15 factors off the bench. Simmons completed with seven factors, seven rebounds, 9 assists, two steals and three blocks.
Haliburton scored a team-high 17 factors for Indiana on 5-of-13 capturing.
This was the primary sport this season the place Claxton, Sharpe and Simmons had been all out there. Sharpe had seven factors and 6 rebounds in his second look of 2024-25. Sharpe (+22), Simmons (+20) and Milton (+21) every had a plus/minus of +20 or higher within the win, a primary for a Nets trio this season.
“Analytics people will tell you not to trust plus/minus, but I only use it as a positive, so I love it,” Fernandez mentioned. “To me, it just tells you that those guys had a big impact, a positive impact on the game… Those three guys, especially closing the game the way they closed it, I couldn’t be happier for them.”The Nets snapped a season-worst three-game shedding streak and improved to 10-13. They’ll return to motion on Sunday towards the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Middle.
Initially Printed: December 4, 2024 at 10:13 PM EST
