The Brooklyn Nets haven’t had much to celebrate this season - but Monday night at Barclays Center, they finally gave their fans something to cheer about.
Coming into the night with just three wins to their name and sitting near the bottom of the league standings, the Nets had been tagged with a not-so-flattering label: “Basement Floor” status. That’s where they landed in the latest power rankings, slotted at No. 29 overall.
Only the Washington Wizards are ranked lower. For a team trying to find its footing under new leadership and a revamped roster, that’s a tough pill to swallow.
But on Monday, Brooklyn pushed back - led by a breakout performance from their newest offensive catalyst.
Michael Porter Jr. lit it up with 35 points, including seven made threes, as the Nets rolled to a 116-103 win over the Charlotte Hornets. It was the kind of night that reminded everyone why Brooklyn brought him in - a smooth scorer with size and range, capable of taking over a game when he gets hot.
This season marks Porter’s first averaging over 20 points per game - he’s putting up 24.3 a night, along with 3.0 assists. In Jordi Fernandez’s system, Porter has found ways to stay efficient offensively.
But availability has been an issue. He’s already missed time with back tightness - a concern that’s followed him throughout his career.
And with the Nets struggling in the standings, there’s little incentive to push him if he’s not at 100%.
Still, when he’s on the floor and in rhythm like he was Monday, the offensive ceiling rises dramatically.
Porter wasn’t alone in the effort. Brooklyn had five players in double figures, showing some of the depth that’s been missing in the early part of the season.
Rookie Noah Clowney chipped in 18 points, showing flashes of the two-way potential that made him a first-round pick. Nic Claxton added 13 points and pulled down 11 rebounds for the double-double, while Danny Wolf and Drake Powell each contributed 10 points.
It was a much-needed team win - and one that bumped the Nets to 4-16 through their first 20 games. That’s still a long way from where they want to be, but it’s a step forward for a group that’s been stuck in reverse for most of the year.
Brooklyn’s season so far has been defined by inconsistency and losing streaks. They opened the year with a seven-game skid and have yet to string together back-to-back wins. In fact, all four of their victories have come in games where they’ve scored over 110 points - they’re 4-3 when reaching that mark, and winless when they don’t.
That tells you a lot about this team’s identity right now. When the offense clicks, they can hang with anyone.
But when the shots aren’t falling, the defensive issues - and they’re significant - become even more glaring. The Nets currently hold a 111.6 offensive rating, but their 122.4 defensive rating is among the worst in the league.
That kind of imbalance makes it tough to compete consistently.
Monday’s win doesn’t erase the struggles, but it does offer a glimpse of what this team could be if they stay healthy and start to gel. Porter’s scoring punch, Claxton’s interior presence, and contributions from the young supporting cast give Brooklyn something to build on.
Next up: a road test against the Chicago Bulls on Wednesday. The Nets are still searching for their first win streak of the season - and if they want to climb out of the basement, it starts with stacking a few of these performances together.