Brooklyn Nets defeat New Orleans Pelicans on Cam Thomas’ game-winner, 107-105

On November 12, 2024By Littum

The Brooklyn Nets took the second part of their big early season test on Monday night.

Despite losing both games in back-to-backs against the Boston Celtics and Cleveland Cavaliers, they had represented themselves well. Brooklyn took the Celtics to overtime after a potential game-winning three from Cam Johnson hit a backhand at the end of regulation, and less than 24 hours later, he built a seven-point lead in clutch time against the 10-0 Cavs.

Did they blow that lead? Yes, but they made a statement anyway. Against the Eastern Conference’s top two teams, the Brooklyn Nets proved they’re not just feisty, but pretty good. And damn feisty.

They defended like hell against both teams, and would have swept back-to-back if they had made one more jumper or committed one less turnover.

Facing a New Orleans Pelicans missing four starters — all but Brandon Ingram — to finish the road trip presented a different kind of test. Brooklyn played their third game in four nights, all in different cities. They had just experienced two high-intensity losses and now faced a depleted team with worse vibes and, in their current state, less talent. Could they push through fatigue, keep their guard up and avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season?

There were red flags in the first half. Brooklyn allowed seven offensive boards to New Orleans and let the one player who wasn’t supposed to beat them, Ingram, shoot 10-of-19 for 22 points. Granted, Ingram made some ridiculous shots, but getting up to 19 of them while dropping four dimes was a problem.

Still, Brooklyn’s legs looked fine as they shot 9-of-21 from three and turned it over just five times. Their bench was key here, led by none other than Ben Simmons, who dished out a whopping ten assists in his dozen first-half minutes.

Cam Thomas said, “Ben (was) just doing what Ben does, getting us to attack, pushing the tempo, getting his assists. So I think there’s going to be a lot more of that going into these upcoming games, but at the same time It’s still good to see.”

Simmons would finish with 6/5/12 and two steals. His main contribution brought life to Brooklyn’s offense in the first half. Before he checked in, the Nets had scored eight points in six minutes. A dozen crosses later and they were up to 40. Simmons even shared some time with Claxton and the pairing looked pretty decent…

Noah Clowney, a very different type of bench, also made his presence felt, hitting a career-high five threes en route to a season-high 15 points.

“When I get mad at the guys is when they stop shooting,” Jordi Fernández said. “And one thing Noah has consistently done is let it fly.”

“It only takes one for me (to get into rhythm), if I make one, it goes up,” Clowney said, before correcting himself: “I mean, even if I don’t make any, they still go up . So that doesn’t matter.”

It looked like the Nets would ride the momentum their reserves brought to a win; they doubled Ingram relentlessly in the second half and he didn’t make a single field goal after the half…

And then it fell apart, and the Nets fans, scrambling full throttle for a tank, took a deep breath; Jordi Fernández’s team had run out of gas at the end of their first real road trip. It happens.

A Pelicans team stacked with perimeter rotation players played their ass off, starting with rookie center Yves Missi, who stunned Brooklyn with 17 points and 11 boards. Then the turnovers came rushing to the surface as the Nets committed 12 of them in the second half. In the end, New Orleans scored 30 paint points in the second half and the Nets scored 12.

All the little things killed the Nets; excusable or not, it felt like a loss and Fernández conceded as such.

“We weren’t good enough, but we were basically lucky.”

Lucky they were still in it, somehow, in the fourth quarter? Or lucky that his team ultimately shot over 45% from three? Probably both. Granted, his defense got serious late in the fourth quarter and held New Orleans scoreless over the final three and a half minutes, setting the stage for Brooklyn’s craziest three of the night.

After a tough Cam Johnson layup, Brooklyn got a stop, then stumbled into a wayward offensive possession. They dribbled menacingly around the perimeter and Jordi Fernández ventured toward half court to call a timeout.

“I told the guys if it gets to 37 (seconds) and we’re disorganized, I’m going to call it. And I saw ourselves disorganized, I called it, but CT, he did what he does. Step back three , and the basketball gods…” Fernández said, trailing off as no words could do the game-winning shot justice.

Thomas drove against the bigger Javonte Green, then ducked back behind the 3-point line, then used his last bit of energy to scrape the Smoothie King Center ceiling with an all-nylon step-back three.

Or “NYLON!!!” when Ian Eagle screamed into the microphone…

Fernandez is right. Brooklyn had no business winning that game. Even with Clowney hitting five threes, even with Ziaire Williams ending his streak of 15 missed threes to hit two Monday night, even as Nic Claxton dug deep to play a strong fourth quarter after a weak first three.

If you want to account for the supposed tanking context of this season, the Nets really had no business winning that game. But they did.

Javonte Green had a chance at redemption, but nearly ticked his would-be three from the right side of the rim. Tanking, injuries, head coaching changes, road trips, whatever. This is still a make-or-miss league, right?

Final score: Brooklyn Nets 107, New Orleans Pelicans

Milestone Watch

Noah Clowney not only tied a career high with five made 3-pointers, but he surpassed Rodions Kurucs and Ryan Anderson by months, not years, to become the youngest Nets ever to do so.
The Seven Nets reached double figures on Monday night, tying a team season high. (Jalen Wilson and Dennis Schröder, neither of whom were mentioned above, tied for 25.)
Ben Simmons’ 12 assists marked a season high.
Domantas Sabonis is the only other NBA player this season to achieve a ten-assist, zero-turnover half, which Simmons accomplished in Monday’s first half.

Damage report

In addition to the continued, expected absences of Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe — though Watford is likely close to returning — Dorian Finney-Smith missed Monday’s game with a left ankle sprain. Ziaire Williams made his first start of the season in place of Finney-Smith.

Fernández said the injury “shouldn’t be super concerning, but we have to be careful and do what’s best for him and his body right now,” according to New York Postis Brian Lewis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo talk amplifies

Courtesy of who else but The Sports Guy?

Hours before tip-off in New Orleans, Bill Simmons posted a clip from his podcast for X in which he believes Brooklyn is the ideal landing spot for Giannis Antetokounmpo should he be traded…

Simmons mentions that he likes the core of Thomas, Claxton and Schröder, then notes that Brooklyn could offer the Milwaukee Bucks a “**** lot of picks.”

Nets fans have heard this rhetoric before, and while many will roll their eyes at the thought of trading for Antetokounmpo 11 games into a rebuild, this is undoubtedly good news. They are 11 games into a rebuild and already seen as an attractive enough landing spot for perhaps the second-best player in the world.

Still, Brooklyn likely won’t entertain those discussions until the offseason, when their near-term future (the draft, free agency, their cap space) crystallizes a little bit. But Sean Marks had to answer the phone; it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. (And yes, the Milwaukee Bucks seem overcooked.)

Next up

Yes, again. And this time Jaylen Brown plays. Nets vs. Celtics announce from Barclays Center at 7:30 PM ET Wednesday night.