The Brooklyn Nets finally have something to build on, and now comes the tougher test: can they carry a first win into Madison Square Garden on a back-to-back?
Brooklyn snapped its early skid Sunday night with a 98-90 win over the Indiana Pacers, getting into the win column at 1-5. That sets up a quick turnaround Monday against the New York Knicks, who are 2-4 after a 98-93 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in their Emirates NBA Cup opener.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET.
Sunday’s victory was a true team effort for the Nets. Five players reached double figures, with Michael Porter Jr. pacing the group with 23 points and nine rebounds. Julius Randle added 20 points, five rebounds and six assists, while Day'Ron Sharpe posted his first double-double of the season with 15 points and 13 rebounds.
Nolan Traoré also gave Brooklyn a lift, finishing with 16 points and six assists. Moritz Wagner chipped in 14 points and six rebounds off the bench. After some uneven offensive stretches earlier in the season, getting that kind of spread-out production was a welcome sign.
That said, the schedule is working against Brooklyn here. Monday is the second night of a back-to-back, and the Nets have already shown how rough that can get. In their previous back-to-back last week, they lost 136-109 to Indiana after falling to the Cleveland Cavaliers the night before.
This time, Brooklyn will hope the momentum from Sunday keeps them from running into the same wall. The setting won’t help much, either. The Nets are headed into a matchup with the defending NBA champions at Madison Square Garden, where the margin for error shrinks fast.
Mikel Brown Jr. is also available after sitting out Sunday as the organization continues to manage his workload. His return gives Brooklyn another backcourt option, and his ability to create offense could matter against a Knicks defense with plenty of talent.
New York, meanwhile, is trying to steady itself after another loss to Philadelphia. The 76ers beat the Knicks 98-93 on Friday, their second win over New York this season. They also opened the Knicks’ championship celebration with a 106-100 win at Madison Square Garden on opening night.
Jalen Brunson led New York with 24 points, five rebounds and six assists in that loss, while Karl-Anthony Towns finished with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Knicks had chances, but Philadelphia closed the game better.
Even with the shaky record, New York still looks like a major force in the Eastern Conference. Brunson remains the hub of the offense, and Towns gives the Knicks a second big scoring threat with range and post presence. Brooklyn will have to track both closely and keep the rest of the roster from finding a rhythm.
For the Nets, the formula is clear: defend with discipline, keep Brunson from getting into the paint, and limit Towns’ chances. If the game turns into a grind late, fatigue could become a factor for Brooklyn.
The first win mattered. Now the Nets get to find out whether it can lead to something more.
In Other News...
Pacers Let A Shorthanded Nets Team Expose A Bigger Problem
A shorthanded Nets group found enough offense to beat the Pacers 98-90, and Nolan Traore was a big reason why. After a slow start, the guard helped turn the game in Brooklyns favor with a steadier second half, finishing with 14 points and six assists while Michael Porter Jr. and Julius Randle added important scoring support.
Day'Ron Sharpe also gave the Nets a lift inside with 15 points and 13 rebounds, a reminder that the roster can still produce when pieces are missing. Even so, the win came with a familiar caveat for Brooklyn, which was already playing without Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr., leaving the team to lean heavily on its depth and on Traores ability to settle things down when the game tightened. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Suddenly Face A Porter Problem That Could Crush His Trade Value
Michael Porter Jr. and the Nets have been working through extension talks since July 6, but the sides still have not found common ground. The delay has only sharpened the conversation around his future in Brooklyn, especially after a career year in which he averaged 24.2 points and 7.1 rebounds. For a player coming off that kind of season, the talent is obvious. The challenge is figuring out what kind of long-term commitment the market is willing to make.
What makes this situation tricky for Brooklyn is that the longer the talks drag on, the more the trade chatter grows around Porter. Teams considering a move for him would have to weigh both his production and the possibility that he could be on a short clock after the trade deadline. That combination can make a deal harder to build, and it leaves the Nets in an awkward spot as they try to balance his value now against the uncertainty of where this all goes next. [Read more 🡒]
Moritz Wagner Is Giving The Nets A Bench Boost They Needed
Moritz Wagner has given the Nets a useful jolt off the bench early in the season, bringing scoring and spacing in a role Brooklyn has needed. Through the first six games, he has fit in smoothly, giving the second unit a reliable interior presence while also stretching the floor in a way that opens up the offense.
His impact showed up in Brooklyns first win of the season, when he finished with 14 points, six rebounds and a block. He has also knocked down at least one three-pointer in every game so far, a steady sign of how quickly he has become part of the rotation as the Nets head into an upcoming matchup with the Knicks. [Read more 🡒]