Nets topple shorthanded Bucks as impressive offense breaks out late run

On By Littum

MILWAUKEE — Cam Johnson was flat on his back after a huge, game-breaking 3-pointer that was laid on the Fiserv Forum floor.

He was not injured. He didn’t even enjoy the annoyance of the stunned crowd. Johnson just caught his breath.

Not shocking. He had just carried his Nets to a come-by-behind, 111-105 victory, stunning the shorthanded Bucks in front of 17,957 fans.

The Nets react during their 111-105 win against the Bucks on Dec. 26. NBAE via Getty Images

Milwaukee played without superstars Giannis Antetokounmpo and Damian Lillard.

And the Nets – trailing by as many as 13 points and 97-92 with just 4:53 left – couldn’t care less. Not after this one.

Not after closing the game on a 19-8 run to grab the win.

Not after a team that has had one of the league’s worst offenses over the last two weeks broke out in the fourth.

Johnson had 10 of his top-29s in the final period.

Backup guard Shake Milton had 14 of his 20 in the fourth quarter, and young big Noah Clowney also added 20 on a career-high 6-of-9 from deep.

Cam Johnson attempts a shot during the Nets’ win against
Bucks on 26 Dec. NBAE via Getty Images

And in the end, the Nets (12-18) got a shot in two games.

“Just keep believing, keep fighting,” Johnson said. “That’s the one thing that can’t go. And when we believe we can win the game, which we did the whole game, we give ourselves a chance. So it just starts with that belief.

“And then play by play, stopping their runs, creating our own runs, and then it allows guys to go out there and make plays like Shake did, like Keon (Johnson) did. Just big buckets. Noah hits 3s. So it’s just the belief that we have to have across the board and that showed in the second half for us today.”

Ben Simmons drives the ball during the Nets’ win against
The goats on 26 Dec. NBAE via Getty Images

Brooklyn, one of the NBA’s worst offenses the past two weeks with Cam Thomas injured and Dennis Schroder traded, shot just 44 percent and 9-for-27 from deep in the fourth.

But they hit 57.7 percent and 7-of-11 when it mattered.

The Nets trailed 97-92 after Khris Middleton (21 points) sank a free throw. But that’s when they seized the game with a 17-5 blitz.

“I’m proud of those guys. Proud of everyone on the roster for just coming together and getting a dub,” Johnson said.

Added head coach Jordi Fernandez: “We cleaned up. I think we came together. We had good energy. We didn’t get disappointed. A lot of times a lot of our guys just get down on themselves and we have to find a way to support each other and keep fighting. And I think the group did that. They did a great job.”

It was tied at 99-all before Clowney beat the shot clock with a tiebreaking 3-pointer with 2:33 left.

Keon Johnson goes up for a dunk during the Nets’ win against the Bucks on Dec. 26. NBAE via Getty Images

Nic Claxton drove the baseline and was fouled, hitting 1 of 2 from the line to make it 103-99.

Then Johnson took a pass from Ben Simmons (eight points, nine assists, plus-16) and hit a long 3-pointer, got fouled and laid down for a layup.

He also sank the free throw that put Brooklyn ahead 109-102 with 47.9 seconds left in regulation.

“In the second half we started to guard. I don’t know how many they scored in the fourth (quarter), but playing defense and getting good shots on the other end, one thing leads to another,” said Clowney, who said the Nets’ few stops in the fourth let them getting out in transition and in early attack. “We dialed it in. We picked up our ball pressure. We did what we know we’re supposed to do. You know when we do what we’re supposed to do, you know we can disrupt teams. Got a lot of length out there. I think ​​we forced a lot of turnovers, and that helps.”