Cam Thomas scored 27 points, and rookie Noah Clowney had his best game yet with 22 points and 10 rebounds as the Brooklyn Nets beat the Indiana Pacers 115-111 on Wednesday night. This win comes after losing to the Pacers in their previous game.
The Nets were officially knocked out of playoff contention when the Atlanta Hawks secured a spot in the NBA Play-In Tournament by beating the Detroit Pistons. The last time the Nets missed the playoffs was in the 2017-18 season.
“We’re trying to develop a winning mentality and competitiveness,” said Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie. “That means supporting each other and giving our best effort no matter what.” Mikal Bridges added 17 points, and Nic Claxton contributed 14 points and 13 rebounds. Despite losing their last two games, the Nets bounced back with this victory.
Clowney, who is the second-youngest player in the league, showcased his skills with 22 points, shooting 7 for 9 from the field, including three 3-pointers.
He scored 14 of his points in the second quarter and became the second-youngest player in franchise history to score over 20 points in a game.
“It’s important for me to play with confidence, whether it’s in the G-League or here,” Clowney said. “I don’t want to hold back and end up playing poorly.” For the Pacers, Pascal Siakam led with 26 points, and Tyrese Haliburton contributed 24 points. However, it wasn’t enough to secure the win for Indiana.
Brooklyn had a rocky start, falling behind by 14 points in the first half, but they rallied and led by 13 points in the third quarter. The game remained close throughout the fourth quarter, with both teams exchanging leads.
In the end, the Nets managed to hold onto their lead, with Dennis Schröder hitting a crucial 3-pointer and Clowney making two free throws to secure the win for Brooklyn.
