The Nets came up short in their second game of the season, but the way they finished against Cleveland gave them something to build on. Brooklyn fell to the Cavaliers 125-121, yet a late push turned what looked like a runaway into a game the Nets had a real shot to steal.
Michael Porter Jr. led the way with 28 points on 10-of-18 shooting, along with nine rebounds and four steals. Julius Randle added 23 points on 7-of-12 shooting, six rebounds and five assists, while Egor Demin chipped in 22 points on 5-of-10 shooting, six assists and four rebounds.
Brooklyn’s fourth quarter was the loudest message of the night. The Nets won the period 41-29 and erased a 17-point deficit with about four minutes left.
They found offense from deep, got to the line, and suddenly had Cleveland feeling pressure. Porter’s 3-pointer cut it to 123-121 with eight seconds remaining, but Sam Merrill answered with a pair of free throws to help close it out for the Cavaliers.
That comeback attempt mattered even in defeat. The Nets showed real fight at the end, and that kind of response should carry weight as the season moves forward.
Demin was another bright spot. After a rough shooting night from beyond the arc on opening night, he found his rhythm against Cleveland and looked more comfortable when the game tightened up. He also went 7-for-7 at the free-throw line and spent much of the night creating cleaner chances for teammates.
There is still room for more from him when it comes to getting downhill, but the source of his value was obvious here: let the Russian sharpshooter stay in his lane and keep firing from outside.
Brooklyn also needs more from the bench. Chaney Johnson stood out with 10 points, five rebounds and three assists, and his energy and mobility showed up on both ends.
Beyond him, though, the second unit didn’t give the Nets enough. Three players from last season’s rookie class still haven’t logged a minute this season, and Mikel Brown Jr. has also had trouble finding any rhythm through his first two NBA games.
In Other News...
Nets Showed One Encouraging Trait Fans Cant Ignore In Loss
The Nets had a hard time keeping pace with Cleveland for much of the night, but they found something to hang onto in the fourth quarter. Brooklyns shooting and defense were uneven throughout the game, yet the teams effort on the glass and general fight back into the contest gave the building a different feel as the comeback started to take shape. Julius Randle and Michael Porter Jr. helped keep the offense afloat, and the Nets looked far more connected when the game started slipping away from them.
Egor Dmin was at the center of that push, giving Brooklyn a burst of energy late as the Cavaliers were forced to sweat out the finish. Even in defeat, the Nets showed a level of resilience that has been missing too often, and that matters for a team still trying to establish a baseline for how it wants to compete. The loss stings, but the way Brooklyn closed is the kind of stretch fans will remember the next time this group needs a little more edge. [Read more 🡒]
Nets 0-2 Start Still Brought A Promising Sign Fans Needed
The Nets are still searching for their first win after an 0-2 start, but there has already been one encouraging development for fans to latch onto. Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. both flashed the kind of early-season promise Brooklyn can build around, giving the team something beyond the scoreboard to point to as the season settles in.
Demins play in particular offered a reminder that the Nets may have found a young piece worth watching closely, while Brown has been easing in after his preseason ankle injury. In a league where so much attention gets paid to the established stars and the headlines around them, Brooklyns early days have at least produced a couple of bright spots the organization can keep developing. [Read more 🡒]
Nets Suddenly Need Answers In The Middle At The Worst Time
The middle of the floor has become a suddenly uneasy place for the Clippers, and it happened early against the Nets when Ivica Zubac went down in the first quarter after rolling his left ankle. He left the game with 4:57 remaining in the period, and with the roster already dealing with injuries elsewhere, any issue involving the starting center carries extra weight this time of year.
The team later said Zubac had a left ankle sprain and would not return, which only sharpens the concern around what comes next. For Brooklyn, the matchup itself may fade quickly, but the bigger question is how the Clippers manage the frontcourt if Zubac is forced to miss time during an already crowded stretch. [Read more 🡒]