In a game that came down to inches and instincts, the Brooklyn Nets found themselves on the wrong end of a late-game thriller against the New Orleans Pelicans-a contest marked by a controversial call, a resilient push, and a final shot that just didn’t fall.
The Pelicans leaned heavily on the dynamic duo of Zion Williamson and Trey Murphy III, who combined for 59 points and 15 rebounds while shooting a blistering 66.6% from the field. Williamson’s power and Murphy’s smooth perimeter game proved to be a tough matchup for a Nets defense that’s shown real growth in recent weeks. But despite that offensive onslaught, Brooklyn had every chance to walk away with the win.
With just 11 seconds left and New Orleans clinging to a 112-110 lead, a pivotal moment unfolded. Murphy III chased down a loose ball near the baseline-a hustle play that might’ve had his heels brushing the line.
Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez didn’t hesitate. He threw his challenge flag, hoping for a reversal that would give Brooklyn the ball with a shot to tie or take the lead.
“We thought that he stepped out of bounds,” Fernandez said postgame. “And then if you get it right, this is obviously a big swing. So that’s why we called [the challenge].”
The officials didn’t see it that way. The call stood, and instead of Brooklyn getting the ball back, Murphy III went to the line and calmly knocked down both free throws, stretching the lead to four.
Still, the Nets weren’t done.
Drake Powell drilled a clutch three with six seconds left to cut the deficit to one. Then, after two free throws from Saddiq Bey made it 116-113, Brooklyn had one last chance-and no timeouts.
With 4.6 seconds remaining, the Nets tried to execute a full-court play they’ve practiced countless times. Powell launched a long pass intended to set up a clean look from deep. The ball was intercepted by Karlo Matković, but in the chaos, he bobbled it-giving Michael Porter Jr. just enough time and space to gather and fire from about 40 feet out.
It was a clean look. A hopeful shot. And it clanged off the backboard.
Game over.
When asked about the final play, Fernandez didn’t dwell on the execution or the result. Instead, he pointed to the broader picture-specifically, the 33 second-chance points Brooklyn surrendered throughout the game.
“I think that play doesn’t matter,” Fernandez said. “What really matters is the 33 second-chance points.
We still got a three up on a length-of-the-floor play that we run and we know. Because whenever you run out of timeouts, you have to have something that everybody knows.”
And that’s the key takeaway here. The Nets got the shot they wanted in a desperate situation: their best shooter, wide open, with the game on the line. Fernandez will take that look every time.
The loss stings, no doubt. But this wasn’t about one missed call or one missed shot.
It was about the margins-second-chance points, hustle plays, and the kind of execution that wins or loses games in the final minute. Brooklyn’s learning how to close these games.
And while this one slipped through their fingers, the experience could pay off down the road.