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Nets earn a 'costly win' with key players injured in Sacramento



Jordi Fernandez wanted to win back in his old stomping grounds in the worst way. Playing back in Sacramento against a former mentor in Mike Brown, you could tell this game meant a little something extra to the Brooklyn Nets head coach. 

The Nets were playing short-handed without Dennis Schroder and Dorian Finney-Smith due to injury. 

Brooklyn came out scorching hot hitting seven 3-pointers in the first quarter on the way to a 37 to 28 advantage. 

Cam Thomas led the way for the Nets with 34 points, and Noah Clowney added 18 points on 5-9 from long range. Unfortunately, both players left the game due to an injury, with only Thomas returning. 

Thomas took a hard fall in the fourth quarter and landed on his already stiff back. He was able to return and helped close things out for Brooklyn, 108-103.

Clowney, on the other hand, left with an apparent ankle sprain that will likely require imaging. 

The Nets will play a back-to-back on Monday night in Golden State, and while it's questionable whether Thomas will be available, it's unlikely that Clowney will play.

Brooklyn is mixed in with play-in teams in the bottom of the Eastern Conference at 7-10, not an ideal spot for many Nets fans hoping this team will tank for a top draft pick. 

Ben Simmons does the unthinkable in nail biter versus Hornets



You'd have to go back to February 10, 2024, to find the last time Ben Simmons reached double figures in scoring. 

That rare feat was achieved during Tuesday night's NBA Cup  116-115 win over Charlotte. Simmons tallied 10 points and 8 rebounds. 




The moment that perhaps sparked Ben Simmons scoring outburst was a dust-up with Brandon Miller. This lit a competitive fire in Simmons that has been absent all season.

It's unlikely that Simmons' scoring prowess continues against his old club in Philadelphia Friday night, but at least he showed a small sign of life and vigor for one of the few times this season with the Brooklyn Nets. 


Nets survive Hornets 116-115 for first NBA Cup win

 


No matter the outcome of the Brooklyn Nets versus Charlotte Hornets contest on Tuesday night, a team ending in 'E-T-S' was going home happy. 

Brooklyn trailed by as many as 17 points in the first quarter as word came down pregame that Cam Thomas would be out for the game with lower back stiffness. 

Thomas' name was floated around as a possible trade chip for Brooklyn, so it's unclear if his trade status has anything to do with his availability or if this is indeed an injury related matter. 

Only time will tell regarding that, but while Brooklyn looked to be missing their leading scorer early, Jordi Fernandez's squad fought back with a fervor.

Cam Johnson led all scorers with 34 points, while Dennis Schröder's 14 points and 12 assists helped a well-balanced Nets attack dig out of an early hole. 

Even Ben Simmons played well with 10 points and eight rebounds while Trendon Watford had a few clutch baskets down the stretch to avoid the Nets blowing an 11-point 4th quarter lead. 

The Nets will have two days off before taking on the 2-11 fledgling 76ers in the group stage of NBA Cup Play in Philly on Friday. 

Nets leading scorer reportedly available via trade




 The Nets are in true rebuilding mode. With loads of veterans possibly on the move before the trade deadline including: Dennis Schröder, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, and Bojan Bogdanovic, there's another name that will surprise Nets fans.

 



According to Sam Amick and The Athletic, Cam Thomas is available via trade. 

The Nets leading scorer is reportedly not untouchable.

Thomas and the Nets did not agree to a long-term extension. Thomas was underutilized by Steve Nash and Jacque Vaughn during his young career. 

Moving Cam Thomas would be an extremely unpopular move in Nets World, but it might be something they'll have to deal with since it's open trade season in Brooklyn.

Former All-Star puts up career-worst numbers with Nets

 


The downfall of this former three-time All-Star needs to be studied. He's never had a silky jumper at any point in his career.

His lack of shooting ability never impacted his influence on the outcome of games. 

Now, more than thee-years removed from his last All-Star season, this 28-year-old is leaving a lot to be desired. 

Injuries have taken their toll on this veteran, with multiple back back ailments resulting in surgeries both in season and the offseason. 

So when you look at Ben Simmons and how he's performing in the 2024-25 NBA campaign, it's clear that this pending free agent has fallen off a cliff, as shown by his numbers on Basketball Reference. 


 Simmons looks like a shell of his former athletic self. His turnovers and personal fouls are a problem and he lacks any type of confidence to take the ball to the basket with authority for fear of going to the free-throw line. 

The only value he provides to the team is to help in their mission to tank and get an NBA Draft Lottery pick as well as his expiring contract representing a salary clearing measure.

Most Nets fans are counting down the days until Simmons is out of a Brooklyn Nets uniform, but for the time being, his lackluster play may end up helping the team get to their end goal of finishing outside of the playoff picture. 



 

Nets player calls Bridges' 3-point celebration 'very annoying'

 


Cam Johnson and Mikal Bridges were affectionately referred to as "twins" during their time in Phoenix and Brooklyn. 

Being teammates in two different cities forms a special bond. So when Bridges jumped ship on Brooklyn this off-season by requesting a trade behind the scenes, Johnson admitted on Sunday it's not as fun being on the other side of Bridges' elation. 




 The Knicks got the best of the Nets in two games at MSG this weekend, but while clearly Johnson was not thrilled with being on the losing end, it doesn't appear as though there's bad blood between the two. 

Knicks help Nets tank job, take two from BKN at MSG



The Brooklyn Nets own the New York Knicks future draft picks. So Friday night's contest and Sunday night's contest at MSG were kind of a win-win for the Nets. 

Or should I say lose- lose? 

The Nets were projected to be an NBA Draft Lottery-bound team, but after starting the season a surprising 4-4, they have now lost five out of six games. 

Brooklyn faced uch stiffer and tougher opponents over the last week including: the Celtics, Cavaliers and Knicks. 

Brooklyn fought back from an 18-point deficit to start the fourth quarter to take a brief lead in the final seconds on Friday, before Jalen Brunson put the Knicks ahead to stay. 

On Sunday night, Karl-Anthony-Towns returned to the lineup for New York in a big way with 26 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. 

Josh Hart dumped in 20 points to go along with eight rebounds and eight assists, while ex-Net Mikal Bridges added 21 points and five rebounds. 

Cam Johnson led the way for Brooklyn with 22 points, while Cam Thomas and Dorian Finney-Smith had 16 apiece. 

The second part of the two-game mini-series at MSG was without late game dramatics as the Knicks cruised to a 114-104 victory. 

The Nets will return home to Barclays Center on Tuesday night to take on the Hornets in the first home game of the 2025 NBA cup. 
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