Those of you who stayed up to watch our 17-win Nets play into the wee hours of the morning were rewarded with an entertaining bout, a touch of history, and somehow still, a lottery-friendly game result.
Those of you who reading this in the morning, first off, no one is blaming you. Hanging with this team in any capacity through this point in the season is more than admirable. So, we’ll do our best to deliver everything that went down to the best of our abilities.
Brooklyn’s start tonight in no way indicated the ride they’d eventually to take us on. They began the game 2-10 from the field and looked headed for another blowout in a hurry. With a few timely cutes and slick feeds, the Nets queued themselves up several good looks at the rim early in the game, but just couldn’t slide the turkey into the oven.
However, the Warriors, who’ve gone 7-16 since having to shelve Steph Curry with runners knee, had their own debilitating basketball vice early on. Golden State surrendered 10 turnovers in the first period alone. And with that grace provided by the extra possessions, Brooklyn eventually found its footing, pulled into the lead, and its shooting above 50% from the frame.
Even as the shooting improved, Brooklyn’s closing minutes of the first weren’t without their mistakes…
In fairness, we’re well beyond asking for perfect, or even decent basketball from this young, hard-working, but obviously talent-deficient team. However, as the game rolled on, the latter attributes shined brighter than the former, even brighter than gold.
Brooklyn continued to turn the Warriors over in the second, getting their total up to 15 less than 18 minutes into the game. The Nets also got up by a dozen around that point after a Ben Saraf nailed a triple that broke a streak of 18 straight misses for him from deep. Brooklyn’s audaciousness grew so abundant in the second that at one point, Terance Mann tried to drop a hammer on Kristaps Porzingis, one of the best statistical rim protectors of our time.
Wisely, Golden State started slowing things down after that, getting to the line and getting 10 points there in the period. They were about to close the half on a 16-9 run until Malachi Smith, with his second 10-day contract still damp with ink, bolted past everyone for lay-in off the glass that made it a 58-50 game at the break.
Jalen Wilson and Ziaire Williams each led the Nets with 11 points each at that point. Williams nabbed four steals along the way as well. The most he’s had in a game before tonight was five. He tied that mark less than three minutes into the second half and surpassed it a few minutes later. He finished with a whopping six.
One of the few other veterans available tonight, Nic Claxton was less involved in the box score. Clax picked up his fourth foul of the game with 5:27 to go and ended up with only three shot attempts in the first half. He logged just eight points in 20 minutes for the game and did not play beyond the third quarter.
In that period, Golden State looked primed to re-take the lead the after starting it on a 12-5 run. However, Drake Powell said “not so fast” with two back-to-back threes that kept his team afloat.
But while maintaining their buoyancy, the Nets and the Warriors eventually drifted into rough waters. Like a limp sailboat, they rocked back and forth in the latter half of the third, trading possessions and points at a rapid pace as the turnovers and shot-making both increased.
Gui Santos, who averages 8.3 points per game, added 15 points in the period while shooting 3-4 from deep. Brooklyn got their own “where’d that guy come from” contributions amidst the chaos as well, as.Chaney Johnson added a quick six points in the frame. Williams, however, remained the guy, adding another eight points to reach 19 by the start of the fourth.
The Nets started with an 86-77 lead, though Santos’ hot shooting quickly threatened their advantage again. Getting support now from Gary Payton II, Brandin Podziemski, and Draymond Green at the defensive end, the Warriors made their first three triples to open the period and tied things up 88-88 with 8:10 remaining.
Once again, Drake Powell tried to change the tide, picking off a pass and going the distance to give Brooklyn back the lead once play resumed. But the Warriors, who still feel like a force of nature for this beat writer whose formative years took place during their heyday, had the look of a strong swell midway through the fourth. Next time down the floor, De’Anthony Melton got in for an easy two before Will Richard walked into a three that gave Golden State it’s first lead since the first.
That said, Golden State couldn’t get any further, and even took a few steps back with many of the final minutes played either with the score tied again or with Brooklyn ahead by a possession or two. Smith played a large part in that, beating the shot clock, blanketing defense, and the odds odds just to be there tonight at one point…
The Warriors, on the other hand, opted to roll with Porzingis in isolation down the stretch and found mixed results. On many occasions, the Unicorn looked more like a run down horse, missing short on a variety of looks around the paint. He did, however, rise over everyone to flush in a missed layup from Santos that tied things back up. Not long after that, he drew a foul on Chaney Johnson brought him to the line and Golden State back up two with just under a minute to go.
In game riddled with responses from both teams, Brooklyn’s next was the best by a landslide, even if it wasn’t game-deciding. Next time down the floor, put Draymond on a poster and possibly into a retirement home. Maybe it’s just getting late here, but I think he gave him a bit of a stare after too…
But while Saraf’s jam had many on the Brooklyn bench smiling from ear to ear, it was Melton who got the last laugh. On the subsequent possession, the legendary ex-Net drew a foul made the necessary free throw to give his team the lead.
With only a handful of seconds remaining after that and no timeouts, the Nets had to heave the ball across the court. Rather than another chance at redemption, Josh Minott’s pass found Melton’s hands. The clock quickly ran out, the Nets told everyone “goodnight,” and picked up their eighth loss in a row.
Final: Golden State Warriors 109, Brooklyn Nets 106
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Nets #afterdark continues on Friday evening as Brooklyn will head out to Los Angeles for a date with the Los Angeles Lakers. For those unaware, Luka Doncic has been on an absolute tear lately at the offensive end. That should provide the night owls among you with some entertainment even as the Nets likely get beat to a pulp. This one tips off at 10:30 p.m. EST.