The Nets discovered themselves in desperation mode late in Tuesday’s rematch in opposition to the Houston Rockets at Barclays Heart. Keon Johnson related from deep to chop their deficit to 2 with 6.9 seconds left. From there, all Houston needed to do was inbounds the ball cleanly and ice the sport on the free-throw line.
That’s it.
However then the inconceivable occurred. Trying to find an angle below his personal basket, Jalen Inexperienced tried to get the ball to Dillon Brooks however threw a awful cross. The ball one way or the other rolled into the fingers of D’Angelo Russell’s, and he was vast open together with his toes set behind the 3-point line.
Houston couldn’t contest and the veteran level guard did the remaining. The Nets capitalized on the chaos and stole their third straight win.
The Nets threw haymakers final Saturday at Toyota Heart, however via the primary 30-ish minutes of Tuesday’s sport, they threw up nothing however bricks.
Effort wasn’t the issue. They performed onerous from begin to end, identical to they did three nights in the past in Houston. Tosan Evbuomwan and Jalen Wilson had been a mixed 5-for-6 within the first quarter, which saved the sport shut early, then Johnson ignited for 9 factors within the second quarter.
Regardless of taking pictures simply 40.5% from the sector within the first half (4-for-13 from deep), the Nets trailed by simply two factors at halftime as a result of the guests had been taking pictures worse at 39.5%. As soon as Nic Claxton caught hearth within the third quarter, momentum shifted in Brooklyn’s favor.
Claxton, the topic of current commerce rumors in Los Angeles, scored eight of his 14 factors within the interval, and Tyrese Martin added eight factors of his personal. They spearheaded a 55% taking pictures effort for the Nets within the third quarter, the place they outscored the Rockets 27-21 to take a 71-67 edge into the ultimate body.
The fewest factors Brooklyn has allowed via three quarters this season have come within the final three video games. Sixty-three factors final Wednesday in Charlotte, 64 factors final Saturday in Houston, and 67 factors Tuesday night time at dwelling.
Houston roared again within the fourth quarter. A Reed Sheppard 3-pointer lower the Rockets’ deficit to 1 with 3:55 left. Then a 3-foot Alperen Şengün hook gave them their first lead because the 5:52 mark within the third quarter. Şengün struck once more moments later, snatching an offensive rebound and ending via contact to place the Rockets up 92-88 with 1:30 left.
However the Nets saved preventing. With 45.7 seconds left, Ziaire Williams drilled a trey from the left nook to make it a one-point sport — a chance created by the Rockets taking two terrible 3s early within the shot clock whereas up 4 within the last minute.
Şengün thought he made it proper for Houston ultimately. Brooklyn couldn’t hold him out of the paint, and his 4 straight makes on the free throw line within the last seconds seemingly put the sport out of attain. The nonsense started after Brooks cut up a pair of free throws seconds later.
For the Rockets, it was an epic collapse in each sense. They dedicated 18 turnovers, which created 25 factors for Brooklyn, and their last giveaway was the most expensive of all. The Nets outscored them 52-40 within the paint and restricted them to 41% taking pictures on the night time.
The Nets, winners of three straight for the primary time since November, improved to 17-33 with the win. Johnson, one in all Brooklyn’s heroes on Tuesday, led the group in scoring with 22 factors in simply over 29 minutes. Şengün paced the Rockets with 24 factors and 20 rebounds.
Brooklyn will return to motion on Wednesday in opposition to the Washington Wizards at Barclays Heart.
