Michael Porter Jr. Shines, But Nets Fall Short Late Against Mavericks
Michael Porter Jr. did everything in his power to will the Brooklyn Nets to another win Friday night in Dallas. The forward was in full takeover mode, dropping 34 points on an efficient 12-of-20 shooting clip, including 6-of-10 from deep. It was his fourth consecutive 30-point performance - the longest such streak of his career - and it nearly carried Brooklyn to their fourth win in five games.
But in a game that featured 23 lead changes, it was the Mavericks who had the final say, outlasting the Nets 119-111 in a fourth quarter where Brooklyn’s offense ran out of steam and their defense couldn’t come up with enough stops.
The Nets were outscored 29-19 in the final frame and shot just 6-of-21 from the field, including 2-of-9 from three. They couldn’t contain Anthony Davis, who came alive in the second half with 20 points and 11 boards on 9-of-17 shooting. Dallas also dominated the hustle stats late, outscoring Brooklyn 7-0 in second-chance points in the fourth quarter.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez pointed to those extra possessions as the difference-maker.
“I like the fight all the way through. I think the team competed well.
But it came down to the defensive rebounding in the fourth,” Fernandez said postgame. “I think they had 10 second-chance points in the fourth quarter.
That’s how you lose games. And also transition defense.
We’ve been better lately... but we couldn’t get it done today.”
It’s a tough pill to swallow for a Nets squad that had the lead late and showed plenty of effort. But effort alone doesn’t win close games - execution does, especially in crunch time.
Porter Jr. spoke after the game about how the final stretch of NBA games demands a different level of intensity and precision.
“It’s a different brand of basketball in the last quarter, but really the last seven, eight minutes,” he said. “It really tightens up, and you’ve got to hold your spots.
You’ve got to own your spots a little bit better. You’ve got to be more aggressive... just being strong the last seven, eight minutes and being very decisive.”
Brooklyn’s offense around Porter Jr. remains a work in progress. When he’s on the floor, the Nets have looked like a different team, especially against sub-.500 opponents.
With Porter Jr. in the lineup, they’d won five straight against such teams entering Saturday, sporting a +14.8 net rating. Without him?
A stark contrast - 0-2 with a -15.7 net rating.
Rookie big man Danny Wolf continues to be a bright spot. He chipped in 17 points and seven rebounds on 6-of-10 shooting, drilling all three of his attempts from beyond the arc.
Over the last six games - since earning a spot in the rotation - Wolf has averaged 13.5 points, 5.8 boards, and 2.3 assists while shooting a scorching 49% from the field, 52% from three, and 80% from the line. That’s big-time efficiency from a first-year player still finding his NBA footing.
Nic Claxton added a double-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds, and four assists, though he had his hands full with Davis down the stretch. Terance Mann contributed 12 points, while Noah Clowney and Tyrese Martin each added 11 off the bench.
But not everyone found their rhythm in Dallas. Egor Demin struggled in his 18 minutes, finishing with just three points on 1-of-7 shooting, along with one rebound, one assist, and two turnovers. Fellow rookies Drake Powell and Nolan Traore saw limited action, combining for only 12 minutes on the floor.
The Nets now turn their attention to Sunday’s matchup at Barclays Center, where they’ll host a Milwaukee Bucks team missing Giannis Antetokounmpo. It’s a chance to bounce back - but only if Brooklyn can clean up the little things that made the difference Friday night: rebounding, transition defense, and late-game execution.
Porter Jr. is giving them a star-level scoring punch. Now the rest of the group has to rise with him.