Two nights after an time beyond regulation loss to the Utah Jazz a lot of the NBA neighborhood would like to neglect, the Nets stormed into Moda Middle and scored 40 factors in a primary quarter the place they drilled eight 3-pointers — tied for essentially the most they made in any quarter this season.
Jordi Fernandez’s group entered Tuesday’s sport towards the Portland Path Blazers as losers of 5 straight video games, persevering with to enhance their lottery odds with every loss. Brooklyn had a 9% probability at incomes the No. 1 total choose within the 2025 NBA Draft coming into the night time and Portland was proper behind them at 7.5%.
With tanking on the minds of each franchises, a random win in January towards an Japanese Convention bottom-dweller wouldn’t do both group a lot good in the long term. However it looks as if each time the tank speak grows loudest, the Nets come out and present the league what sort of group it could possibly be.
Brooklyn received 132-114 and improved to 14-26 in a sport the place it by no means trailed. For one night time it seemed like a contender.
After constructing a 10-point lead by the primary 12 minutes of motion, the Nets opened the second quarter on a 6-0 run to go up 46-30. The Path Blazers responded with a 14-3 run to chop the deficit to 5, however Brooklyn shot 54.2% by two quarters, made 11 treys, and constructed a 66-61 lead at halftime.
The Nets had 20 assists to 5 turnovers within the first half and someway survived a 25-point onslaught from Scoot Henderson, who missed solely as soon as in his first 10 tries. The previous No. 3 total choose completed with a career-high 39 factors, but it surely hardly mattered.
After hitting Brooklyn’s first and third 3-pointers of the night time, Noah Clowney made No. 12 and 13 to offer his group a seven-point edge with 8:42 left within the third quarter. The Nets had 98 factors coming into the ultimate body, one bucket shy of tying their highest level complete by three quarters this season.
It was simply that form of night time for the Nets. Each participant scored. Their reserves outscored Portland’s 50-18, fueled by Jalen Wilson’s 14 factors. They’d a season-high 36 assists on 49 discipline objectives. Their complete factors, discipline aim proportion (54.4%), and margin of victory (18) had been additionally season highs.
When the Nets are wholesome — or near it — they could be a scary group. Nic Claxton missed Tuesday’s sport due to proper hamstring tightness, however Cam Johnson and D’Angelo Russell returned from prolonged absences. Johnson casually scored a team-high 24 factors on 10-of-18 capturing whereas Russell added 13 factors, 9 assists and 4 steals in 21 minutes off the bench.
“I’m proud of the guys,” Johnson mentioned. “We cherish these wins, and we’re going to keep it going.”
With Ben Simmons operating the present in transition, the Nets loved a 29-14 edge in quick break factors, setting a brand new season excessive. He tallied a game-high 11 assists in 26 minutes, as he continues his strongest stretch of play in recent times.
Brooklyn additionally dominated the paint 56-40 for these conserving monitor at dwelling.
Nets followers are celebrating Tuesday’s win, someplace within the multiverse. Within the actuality we dwell in, many are upset after watching their group swap locations with Portland within the lottery standings.
Maybe Brooklyn’s dominant efficiency towards the Path Blazers will chew them later down the street, however the gamers in that locker room wanted an evening like this. It’s going to be an extended season. It doesn’t matter what the entrance workplace desires, they should style success, too.
Initially Printed: January 15, 2025 at 9:09 AM EST
