Nets are winners at last in Indiana

Michael Porter Jr.’s 32 points helped the Nets post victory No. 1 in Indiana on Wednesday night as Brooklyn became the last team in the league to snag a win. AP Photo by Michael Conroy

No one can call the Brooklyn Nets winless anymore.

Buoyed by 32 points and 11 rebounds from Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton’s best all-around game of the year, the Nets averted historic infamy by blowing past the injury-depleted Indiana Pacers, 112-103, on Wednesday night in front of 16,103 fans at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

One defeat away from owning the worst start of the Brooklyn era, which began in 2012, the Nets (1-7) trailed by five points at the half and three following the third quarter before running away from Indiana (1-7) with a 32-20 fourth-quarter burst.

“I think it was a team effort. And I’m really proud of the whole group and being part of the win,” gushed Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernández after waiting more than two weeks for his team to get off the zero.

Porter, who sat out Monday’s home loss to Minnesota due to personal reasons, came roaring back with his third 30-plus point effort of the campaign.

The Nets needed every bit of it after losing leading scorer Cam Thomas to hamstring tightness five minutes into play.

The 6-foot-10 forward drained half of his 20 shots, including four 3-pointers, and scored 20 points prior to intermission to keep Brooklyn within striking distance.

Claxton, who has remained upbeat despite the Nets’ dismal start, finished with 18 points, 10 rebounds, six assists, three steals, two blocked shots and no turnovers in 34 scintillating minutes.

Brooklyn’s high-flying center handed out at least five helpers for the third straight contest, marking the longest such run in his NBA career. He even went 8-for-10 at the free-throw line after entering the contests at 57.7% from the charity stripe.

“We know we can play through him,” Fernández said of Claxton.

“When he’s aggressive, then things open up. And I think he’s just making the simple play every time. Even in transition, I trust him 100% and that’s what he’s doing. He’s getting better.”

Nic Claxton’s best overall performance of the year helped the Nets avoid their worst ever in the Brooklyn era. AP Photo by Michael Conroy

Noah Clowney added 17 points, Tyrese Martin had 16 off the bench and Terance Mann made the most of his start at point guard, putting up 15 points to go with six assists as the Nets became the last team in the league to post a victory.

“I’m very happy for the group,” noted Fernández. “Winning like this gives you energy to do what you do and come back and get 1% better for the next game.”

Paul Siakam led the way for Indiana with 23 points and nine assists, but the Pacers fell into a tie with Brooklyn for the NBA’s worst record as they continue to play without nearly two handfuls of injured regulars.

Indiana also lost star guard Tyrese Haliburton to an Achilles injury this past summer.

Despite also playing without starting guards Andrew Nembhard and Bennedict Mathurin, rookie guard Kam Jones, reserve point guard T.J. McConnell and power forward Obi Toppin on Wednesday, Indiana entered the final period with an 83-80 advantage.

However, a game that featured 10 ties and 12 lead changes, finally went the Nets’ way for good when Claxton knocked down a pair of free throws to cap an 8-0 burst that gave Brooklyn a 101-91 cushion.

The Nets beat the Pacers at the line all night, going 26-of-35 while limiting Indiana to only 13 trips and eight makes.

Brooklyn will return to Barclays Center on Friday seeking its first winning streak of the season as it hosts Detroit in the NBA Cup opener for both squads.

“For back-to-back games, we look like a competitive group,” Fernández added. “That’s the way that we want to be better. … Winning starts now.”

Tip-off vs. the Pistons is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The game will air locally on the YES Network.

The Nets will have to wait to see if leading scorer Cam Thomas’ hamstring injury is more than just tightness. AP Photo by Michael Conroy

NOTHING BUT NET: The 2015-16 Nets also lost their first seven game before winning in Houston. … Thomas appeared to injure his left hamstring, the same one that cost him nearly three quarters of last season. However, Fernández wouldn’t concede that it was a long-term problem, calling it hamstring “tightness” in the postgame presser. … Egor Dёmin was the only one of the Nets’ five first-round picks to see action against the Pacers. Though he didn’t score, the 6-foot-8 Russian did show off his versatility with three rebounds, two assists, two steals and a blocked shot with no turnovers in 13 minutes off the bench. … Perhaps trying to rouse his team out of its early season malaise, Indiana coach Rick Carlisle drew a couple of technical fouls for an outburst in the opening stages of the second half, resulting in his ejection. … After hosting the Pistons on Friday, the Nets will go across the East River to visit the New York Knicks on Sunday at 6 p.m.

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