Tag: Brooklyn Nets

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NBA (Basketball)

Cameron Johnson and the Nets prepare to face the struggling Jazz

Brooklyn Nets center Day’Ron Sharpe during the first half of an NBA basketball game

Cameron Johnson is having the best season of his six-year career, delivering performances that not only help the Brooklyn Nets win games but might also boost his trade value.

With rumors surrounding Johnson’s future, his next chance to shine comes Saturday night when the Nets take on the Utah Jazz, the second-worst team in the Western Conference.

Johnson is averaging 19.2 points per game, shooting 48.9 percent from the field and 43.1 percent from beyond the arc. These stats would all be career highs. He has scored 20 or more points in five of his last six games, with an average of 24.2 points on 49.4 percent shooting during that stretch. He has been shooting 50.9 percent in his last 21 games.

Johnson scored 22 points in Brooklyn’s 130-101 home loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, which came after Dennis Schroder was traded to the Golden State Warriors for three second-round picks.

He then followed up with a 33-point performance in a 101-94 win over the Toronto Raptors on Thursday. In that game, Johnson’s effort stood out as the only player on the team to score more than 12 points while the Nets shot just 40.2 percent, their third-lowest mark of the season.

Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers

“Just really trying to win the game is really what it comes down to,” Johnson said after also grabbing 10 rebounds and dishing out six assists. “We didn’t have a good feeling after that Cleveland game, so we wanted to make sure we came out here and got a dub. To get a win like this (is big).”

However, the Nets have lost six of their last eight games.

The Jazz, with a 6-20 record, currently have better lottery odds than the 11-16 Nets, as they are among the worst teams in the NBA along with the Washington Wizards and New Orleans Pelicans.

Utah started the season with six straight losses and is now 6-14, looking for back-to-back wins for the first time since April 11-12 of last season.

After giving up 144 points in a 37-point loss to the Clippers in Los Angeles on Monday, the Jazz managed to win 126-119 on the road against the Detroit Pistons on Thursday. That victory brought their record to 5-6 when allowing fewer than 120 points.

However, the win wasn’t as comfortable as coach Will Hardy would have liked. The Jazz had a 48-19 lead over Detroit after the first quarter but ended up making the game closer by committing 24 turnovers in the final three quarters, marking their 10th game this season with 20 or more turnovers. Utah’s win also saw Jordan Clarkson ejected for shoving Paul Reed in the third quarter.

“It was super physical, chippy, ugly, nasty,” Hardy said. “There’s turnovers, there’s fouls, there’s fights, there’s a level of tension in the game and in the arena that we really haven’t seen this year.”

Collin Sexton scored a season-high 30 points, ending a streak of seven games where he scored under 20. The Jazz are also getting stronger performances from second-year guard Keyonte George, who has been averaging 18.1 points over his past seven games and scored 28 in Detroit.

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NBA (Basketball)

League-leading Cavaliers race to big lead, dominate Nets

Cleveland Cavaliers and Brooklyn Nets

Evan Mobley scored 19 of his 21 points in the second half, and Caris LeVert scored all 19 of his points in the first half, as the Cleveland Cavaliers took control early and easily beat the Brooklyn Nets 130-101 on Monday night.

Cleveland’s lead grew to as much as 37 points, improving their record to 23-4 for the best start in team history, and they are 8-4 since winning their first 15 games.

Donovan Mitchell added 18 points on 6-of-14 shooting and was the only starter to miss more than two shots. Georges Niang scored 17 points and grabbed nine rebounds, Jarrett Allen and Issac Okoro each had 12 points, and Darius Garland added 11. The Cavs shot 53.1 percent, made 19 three-pointers, and scored 130 points for the seventh time this season.

Mobley was 6-of-7 shooting after halftime and did most of his scoring after Cleveland had a 72-40 lead at the break. He scored 10 points in the third quarter to help the Cavs extend their lead to 104-77 going into the fourth.

LeVert, coming off the bench, made his first five three-pointers in the first quarter, helping Cleveland build a big lead.

Cleveland Cavaliers (NBA)

The former Net hit two threes in 28 seconds during a 16-0 run, then added another three in the last minute to give Cleveland a 37-17 lead after the first quarter.

Cleveland went on a 15-point run midway through the second quarter, and LeVert hit two more three-pointers in the final 2:44, helping the Cavs extend their lead to 72-40 by halftime.

The Nets, who traded Dennis Schroder to the Golden State Warriors on Sunday, lost for the sixth time in their last seven games after winning three straight from November 24-27. Brooklyn also allowed at least 130 points for the second game in a row and for the fourth time this season.

Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 22 points, Day’Ron Sharpe added 15, and Jalen Wilson contributed 13. Ben Simmons scored 10 points and had eight assists but also committed six of Brooklyn’s 22 turnovers, which led to 34 points for Cleveland.

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NBA (Basketball)

Reports: Warriors set to trade for guard Dennis Schroder from Nets

Dennis Schroder gestures mid game

The Golden State Warriors will trade for point guard Dennis Schroder from the Brooklyn Nets, according to reports on Saturday.

In exchange, the Warriors will send injured guard De’Anthony Melton and three second-round picks to the Nets. Brooklyn will also send a second-round pick to Golden State.

Schroder, 31, is having a strong season with the Nets, averaging 18.4 points and a career-high 6.6 assists in 23 games. He is shooting 38.7 percent from three-point range and averaging 1.1 steals.

This will be Schroder’s eighth team in his 12-year NBA career. He began his career with the Atlanta Hawks and has since played for several teams.

The trade cannot be completed until Sunday, when Melton will be eligible to be traded.

Dennis Schroder takes the ball forward in the 2nd half

Melton, who had surgery on Dec. 4 to repair a partially torn ACL in his left knee, will miss the rest of this season. He is expected to fully recover before the 2025-26 season.

Melton was injured during a game against the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 12. In six games this season, Melton averaged 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

Over his career, Melton has played 356 games with the Phoenix Suns, Memphis Grizzlies, Philadelphia 76ers, and Warriors, averaging 9.1 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 2.8 assists.

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NBA (Basketball)

Ja Morant and the Memphis Grizzlies secured their fourth consecutive win by defeating the Brooklyn Nets

Memphis Grizzlies and Brooklyn Nets

Ja Morant recorded 28 points, 10 assists, and seven rebounds as the Memphis Grizzlies won their fourth consecutive game, defeating the Brooklyn Nets 135-119 on Friday.

Desmond Bane contributed 21 points and eight assists, while Santi Aldama came off the bench to score 20 points, including five 3-pointers. The Grizzlies, who have won 10 of their last 11 games, also saw Jaren Jackson Jr. add 20 points, Brandon Clarke score 14, and Jaylen Wells finish with 12 points.

Memphis took the lead at 21-18 midway through the first quarter and never trailed after that. They shot 52.5 percent from the field and 47.2 percent from beyond the arc, making 17 of 36 three-point attempts. This victory helped them avenge two early-season losses to Brooklyn.

Jackson also contributed seven rebounds and five steals, while the Grizzlies extended their streak of scoring at least 115 points to 11 games.

Dorian Finney-Smith led the Nets with 19 points. Dennis Schroder and Jalen Wilson both scored 15 points, and Noah Clowney, Shake Milton, Day’Ron Sharpe, Cameron Johnson, and Keon Johnson each had 12 points. However, Brooklyn committed 18 turnovers and has now lost five of its last six games.

Ja Morant celebrates a three pointer

Memphis entered the game as the league’s highest-scoring team, averaging 122.1 points per game. They led 39-36 at the end of the fast-paced first quarter, with both teams combining for 13 made three-pointers. Morant scored 16 points in the second quarter, helping Memphis extend their lead to 69-56 by halftime.

Brooklyn briefly closed the gap to 74-72 in the third quarter with back-to-back three-pointers from Johnson, Finney-Smith, and Schroder, but Memphis responded with a 13-0 run, capped by a three-pointer from Jaylen Wells.

The Grizzlies led 107-95 at the start of the fourth quarter and extended their lead to 121-106 after a layup from Clarke. Ben Simmons cut the deficit to 123-113 with 5:38 left, but Memphis answered with a 10-0 run to seal the win.

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NBA (Basketball)

On a winning streak, the Grizzlies aim to get revenge on the Nets for previous losses

Ja Morant in the 1st half

The Memphis Grizzlies are playing much better now compared to the team that lost twice to the Brooklyn Nets in the first two weeks of the season.

The Grizzlies have won nine of their last 10 games and hope to keep their strong play going when they face the Nets at home on Friday. Both teams have had four days of rest after they didn’t qualify for the final rounds of the NBA Cup.

The Nets have lost four of their last five games, and it will be tough for them to stop Memphis, which has scored at least 115 points in 10 consecutive games.

After Memphis’ recent victories over the Boston Celtics and Washington Wizards, the team received praise from opposing coaches. Ja Morant, the star of the Grizzlies, scored 32 points in their 127-121 win over Boston last Saturday.

“If you don’t defend them in transition, it’s going to be extremely difficult to beat them,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “They’re a good team, well-coached and have great players. You have to control what you can control, don’t turn the ball over and get back on defense so you can withstand when their talent takes over.”

Morant (back soreness) and Desmond Bane (left toe soreness) missed the Grizzlies’ 140-112 road win over the Wizards on Sunday, but both are expected to play against Brooklyn.

Santi Aldama has been playing well, averaging 13.2 points and 7.5 rebounds while shooting 52.5 percent from the field for the Grizzlies, who have led for almost 370 out of a possible 480 minutes in their last 10 games.

“We are making progress and developing right now, and I’m definitely excited where this group has trended the past couple weeks,” Memphis coach Taylor Jenkins said. “Are we going to maintain our pace? We’ve been committed to relying on our depth.

Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

“Defensively, we’ve had progress in our pick-and-roll coverages and our one-on-one defense has improved. But it’s all about consistency. That’s the thing we’ve talked with the team about over this stretch.”

In their earlier losses to Brooklyn, Memphis only averaged 105 points per game. However, the Nets’ defense has not been as strong recently.

Brooklyn lost 118-113 to Milwaukee on Sunday after they blew a 12-point lead in the third quarter. The Bucks came back and scored 23 points in the final six minutes to win the game.

“No defense to finish that third quarter. No defense to finish the fourth,” Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez said. “That’s how you win and lose games in the NBA. You look at the offensive line, it’s pretty good. It’s just our defense was worse than bad.”

Dennis Schroder had 34 points and 11 assists in the loss, and Cam Johnson scored 26 points. Center Nic Claxton, who had a season-high 21 points along with 10 rebounds, four assists, three steals, and two blocks, praised Fernandez for being honest after the game.

“That’s what really good coaches do. They hold you accountable. They hold you to a high standard. They’re straightforward,” Claxton said. “They tell you what they expect from you. That’s what we need, especially with a younger team. We definitely feed off of that.”

Nets forward Dorian Finney-Smith returned to the game against Milwaukee after missing four games due to an ankle injury. He scored nine points and grabbed four rebounds in 31 minutes.

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Giannis Antetokounmpo leads the Bucks’ comeback to defeat the Nets

Milwaukee Bucks and Brooklyn Nets

Giannis Antetokounmpo scored 34 points to lead the Milwaukee Bucks to a 118-113 win over the Brooklyn Nets on Sunday.

The Bucks bounced back from recent losses to the Atlanta Hawks and Boston Celtics, earning their eighth win in the last 10 games. They improved to 10-3 since a tough start to the season, which included a 13-point loss to the Nets on October 27.

Antetokounmpo made 14 of his 22 shots and grabbed 11 rebounds, adding four assists and three blocks to his performance.

Bobby Portis played a key role, scoring 12 of his 23 points in the fourth quarter. His clutch three-pointer from the left side, following a steal by Andre Jackson Jr., put the Bucks ahead 109-108 with 2:08 left. Portis made 9 of 10 shots, including a perfect 5-of-5 from three-point range. He also blocked Dennis Schroder’s shot, leading to an Antetokounmpo dunk with 1:09 remaining.

Gary Trent Jr. scored 20 points as the Bucks shot 57.4 percent from the field and made 15 three-pointers. Damian Lillard contributed 15 points and 11 assists, while Khris Middleton added 11 points in his second game back from an ankle injury.

Schroder had a season-high 34 points and 11 assists, but the Nets lost for the fourth time in their last five games. Cameron Johnson scored 26 points, and Nic Claxton added a season-high 21 points and 10 rebounds.

Giannis Antetokounmpo reacts after a basket

Despite shooting 50.6 percent, the Nets couldn’t hold onto a 12-point lead late in the third quarter.

Antetokounmpo scored 11 points in the first quarter as the Bucks shot nearly 53 percent and led 27-25. Schroder finished the first half with a 19-point performance, including a jumper right before the halftime buzzer, giving the Nets a 52-51 lead.

Claxton’s three-point play and a dunk put the Nets up 63-58 with 8:26 left in the third quarter. Johnson then scored six straight points, and his layup in transition gave Brooklyn a 74-66 lead with about 5 1/2 minutes remaining.

Brooklyn extended its lead to 83-71 after two free throws by Day’Ron Sharpe. However, the Bucks responded with a 15-3 run in the final 3:17, tying the game at 86-86 as they headed into the fourth.

The Nets led 98-93 when Antetokounmpo returned with 8:02 left in the game. After a three-pointer from Johnson, Brooklyn led 106-101 with 3:47 remaining.

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The Pacers aim to reduce errors in their game against the Bulls

Indiana Pacers (NBA)

The Indiana Pacers are focusing on reducing turnovers as they try to end their four-game losing streak against the Chicago Bulls on Friday.

In their 99-90 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday in New York, the Pacers committed 12 turnovers in the first half and 16 overall, which contributed to their defeat. This followed a 122-111 loss to the Toronto Raptors on Tuesday, where they gave the ball away 21 times.

If the Pacers repeat this mistake against the fast-paced Bulls, it could cause big problems, as the Bulls are known for thriving in open-floor situations.

“Turnovers have been a problem for us,” said Pacers coach Rick Carlisle. “We have real clean quarters and then we have real dirty quarters with turnovers. It bit us again. … Those are controllable things. We’ve got to keep working on it. Really no excuses for it.”

Part of the issue may be the challenging schedule.

“We’re back-to-back — it’s a lousy travel situation,” Carlisle said, referring to the games in Toronto and Brooklyn. “It’s hell getting in and out of New York, we got to the hotel at 2:30 (Wednesday morning). That contributes a little bit to it, but our guys kept fighting.”

Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

Despite the losses, Tyrese Haliburton scored 17 points against Brooklyn, and T.J. McConnell added 14 points, contributing to the team’s strong bench play. Both will be crucial against Chicago, although Andrew Nembhard may be out due to left knee tendinitis.

The Bulls are looking for their third consecutive win and will be finishing their own back-to-back set. They won 139-124 against the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Ayo Dosunmu had a career-high 27 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists, while Nikola Vucevic scored 39 points on 16-of-22 shooting, taking advantage of Victor Wembanyama’s absence.

“He has been great all year and he played a great game tonight,” said Bulls coach Billy Donovan. “With Wembanyama being out, they (Spurs) didn’t have the same kind of length at the rim.

They tried to do some things to switch some of his pick-and-rolls, but he’s such a smart player, he can figure out where mismatches are. (He can) post up, he shot threes, he played in the pocket — I thought his game was great.”

The Bulls led throughout their game in San Antonio, scoring 73 points in the first half, matching their best first-half effort of the season. Their total of 139 points was their highest since December 2022.

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Franz Wagner and the Magic maintain their dominance over the Nets

Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets

Franz Wagner scored 20 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and made eight assists while having a tough time shooting on Sunday, as the Orlando Magic extended their winning streak to six games with a 100-92 victory over the Brooklyn Nets.

Orlando has now won 12 of their last 13 games and defeated the Nets for the third time this season in a game that featured 60 personal fouls between the teams.

After scoring 29 points for the second time against the Nets this season on Friday, Wagner struggled with his shooting, making only 4 of 17 field goals. However, he made 12 of 14 free throws, including two after taking a hit to the face from Nic Claxton, which led to Claxton’s ejection with 18 seconds remaining.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope added 16 points, including a key 3-pointer that gave Orlando the lead and started a 17-9 run to close the game.

Wendell Carter Jr. contributed 14 points for the Magic, who shot 45.9 percent (34 of 74) from the field despite missing 21 of 28 3-point attempts. Moritz Wagner and Jalen Suggs each scored 12 points, and Goga Bitadze added 12 points and grabbed a game-high 13 rebounds.

Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets

Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 25 points but appeared to injure his ankle or hamstring in the final minute. Brooklyn also lost Ben Simmons to a bruised left knee. Dennis Schroder scored 20 points but struggled with his shooting, making only 6 of 19 attempts. The Nets shot 38 percent (30 of 79) from the field and missed 23 of 31 3-point shots, including 11 in a row at one point.

The game was close throughout, with neither team leading by more than five points. The first half saw 14 lead changes and 11 ties, and the teams were tied at 50 at halftime. Caldwell-Pope gave Orlando a 69-59 lead with two consecutive baskets late in the third quarter, and the Magic took a 75-69 lead into the final period.

The Nets fought back from a 10-point deficit, using a 20-9 run to take a 79-78 lead on a 3-pointer by Schroder with 9:48 left in the game. Caldwell-Pope hit another 3-pointer to break an 83-83 tie with 6:22 left, and Bitadze’s dunk with just over four minutes remaining pushed Orlando’s lead to 96-86, helping them secure the win.

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Franz Wagner leads the Magic to a dominant win over the Nets

Orlando Magic and Brooklyn Nets

Franz Wagner scored 21 of his 29 points in the first half as the Orlando Magic took control late in the second quarter and pulled away in the third, beating the Brooklyn Nets 123-100 in an NBA Cup game on Friday night in New York.

With this win, Orlando moved to 3-0 in Group A, beginning a stretch of three consecutive games in New York. They extended their winning streak to five games and have now won 11 of their last 12 games. Brooklyn, on the other hand, ended the NBA Cup with a 1-3 record and was eliminated earlier in the day after the Atlanta Hawks defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Wagner scored 29 points against Brooklyn for the second time this season, adding eight rebounds and eight assists. He shot 12-of-20 from the field and made three 3-pointers.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope hit four 3-pointers, scoring 19 points. The Magic continued their strong play, improving to 11-5 since Paolo Banchero was sidelined with an oblique injury. Rookie Tristan da Silva scored 13, while Jalen Suggs and Wendell Carter Jr. each added 12 points. Orlando shot 53 percent from the field, matched their season-high with 18 3-pointers, and scored 34 points off 20 Brooklyn turnovers.

Franz Wagner (NBA)

Brooklyn was already missing Cam Thomas (hamstring), and with six different starting lineups in as many games, they saw their three-game winning streak come to an end. Dennis Schroder (personal) and Dorian Finney-Smith (ankle) were also absent.

Shake Milton scored 22 points, and Keon Johnson added 15 as Brooklyn’s bench contributed 58 points. Cameron Johnson had 14 points, Trendon Watford scored 13, and Jalen Wilson added 11 as the Nets shot 49.4 percent from the field.

Wagner’s nine first-quarter points helped Orlando build a 33-29 lead after the first quarter, making 12 of 18 shots. After a missed dunk by Claxton with 3:11 left in the second quarter, Wagner added a layup and a 3-pointer as Orlando closed the half with a 13-3 run, leading 61-49.

The Magic took their first 20-point lead when Suggs hit a 3-pointer from the left corner to make it 74-54 with 9:09 remaining in the third. Carter’s hook shot with 6:29 pushed the lead to 80-55. Orlando then entered the fourth quarter with a 96-71 lead.

When the Nets cut the deficit back to 20, Wagner hit three more baskets in the lane to extend the lead to 105-84 with 5:15 left, essentially sealing the victory.

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Nets rally from 18-point deficit to defeat Warriors

Brooklyn Nets and Golden State Warriors

Dennis Schroder scored 31 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 128-120 victory over the Golden State Warriors in San Francisco on Monday night. The Nets came back from an 18-point deficit in the third quarter on the second night of a back-to-back. Schroder hit four of Brooklyn’s 20 three-pointers.

Cam Thomas also had a strong performance, scoring 23 points, including three 3-pointers, as the Nets shot 44.4 percent (20 of 45) from behind the arc. This win came just one day after they surprised the Sacramento Kings.

Stephen Curry led the Warriors with 28 points, but the Warriors lost for the second game in a row.

The Warriors appeared to be in control midway through the third quarter, taking an 86-68 lead after a four-point play by Curry and a basket by Trayce Jackson-Davis. However, the Nets responded by outscoring Golden State 60-34 in the rest of the game, including a 41-28 run in the fourth quarter.

Every Nets player hit a 3-pointer. Jalen Wilson, who scored 18 points, and Ziaire Williams, who finished with 19 points, both made three 3-pointers. Shake Milton added 13 points, Trendon Watford scored eight, and Keon Johnson also contributed eight.

De’Anthony Melton, Stephy Curry and Trayce Jackson-Davis after the win

Curry made eight of 16 3-point attempts for the Warriors, who hit 19 of 46 three-pointers (41.3 percent). The big difference came at the free-throw line, where Brooklyn made 26 of 30 attempts, compared to Golden State’s 11 of 17.

Thomas (8-for-8) and Schroder (7-for-7) were perfect at the free-throw line. Williams also had a game-high 10 rebounds, along with four assists. Schroder tied for the game-high with seven assists and added five rebounds.

Andrew Wiggins scored 18 points for the Warriors, while Moses Moody had 15 and Lindy Waters III added 13. Gary Payton II contributed nine rebounds, eight points, four assists, and two steals, while Draymond Green tied Curry for the team lead in assists with seven, along with seven rebounds and six points.

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The performance of the bench could be crucial for the Nets in their matchup against the Warriors

Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

The Brooklyn Nets are hoping their bench can give them a boost when they play the Golden State Warriors on Monday night in San Francisco, especially as they’re on the second night of a back-to-back.

Noah Clowney had a strong performance, making five 3-pointers and scoring 18 points, while Shake Milton added 10 points in a 108-103 win over Sacramento on Sunday. The Nets’ bench combined for 44 points in the game, helping them start their three-game road trip with a win.

Jalen Wilson contributed seven points, including an important free throw late in the game, and Keon Johnson added six. The Nets’ bench players helped cover for the starters, playing a total of 101 minutes during the first game of the back-to-back.

Brooklyn’s bench outscored Sacramento’s reserves 44-9, which played a big part in the win.

The Nets’ trust in their bench is also helping the team adjust to new head coach Jordi Fernandez’s fast-paced style. Starter Cameron Johnson talked about the team’s progress, saying, “We’re gonna pick up and guard; we’re gonna ball-pressure. We’re gonna shoot threes and we’re gonna run. We’ve done a good job of that so far. Not perfect. Room for improvement. But I’m excited about the direction this team is headed.”

After winning just 32 games last season, the Nets have now won two of their last three games, including Sunday’s tough victory in Sacramento after almost losing a 19-point lead.

Golden State Warriors and Atlanta Hawks

Monday will be Brooklyn’s first game against the Warriors this season. Golden State has been strong at home, winning five straight games, including victories over Dallas and Memphis, which helped them take the top spot in the NBA Cup’s Western Conference Group C. They have already secured a spot in the NBA Cup semifinals in the West.

The Warriors clinched that spot with a 112-108 win over New Orleans on Friday, but they struggled on Saturday, losing 104-94 to San Antonio. After the loss, Warriors head coach Steve Kerr wasn’t too concerned. He said, “Keep on keeping on. You move forward. It’s been a great start to the season. Disappointing loss. You learn from it.”

Golden State has now lost two of its last four games, and during that stretch, Stephen Curry’s scoring has dropped from 26 points to 23, then 19, and finally 14 points in the most recent loss. On the other hand, Andrew Wiggins has stepped up, scoring 20 or more points in all four games, hitting 57.6 percent of his shots.

Monday’s game might carry extra significance if the teams continue their recent trend of sweeping their season series. Since the 2015-16 season, each two-game series between these teams has ended in a sweep, with Brooklyn winning both games in 2022-23, while Golden State got revenge last season.

In their last meeting in San Francisco last December, Cam Thomas and Curry put on an exciting performance, with Thomas scoring 41 points and Curry finishing with 37. However, Golden State’s bench had the upper hand, outscoring Brooklyn’s reserves 30-13 in that game.

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Cam Thomas scores 34 points to lead the Nets to a comeback victory over the Kings

Brooklyn Nets and Sacramento Kings

Cam Thomas scored a game-high 34 points to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 108-103 comeback win over the Sacramento Kings on Sunday night.

Noah Clowney added 18 points off the bench, while Cameron Johnson chipped in 16 for the Nets, who had a 19-point lead in the second quarter but lost it, falling behind 94-90 in the fourth quarter before rallying for their second win in three games.

De’Aaron Fox led the Kings with 31 points, but Sacramento lost their third consecutive game.

Thomas sparked the Nets’ comeback with a 3-pointer at 8:55 in the final quarter, and Ben Simmons followed with a dunk off an offensive rebound to put Brooklyn ahead 95-94. Thomas then scored two free throws and a layup, capping a 9-0 run, giving the Nets a 99-94 lead. The Kings couldn’t get any closer than three points after that.

The Kings made one last push after holding the Nets scoreless for almost three minutes.

Philadelphia 76ers and Brooklyn Nets (NBA)

Sacramento cut the lead to 107-103 with a free throw from Fox at 1:25 left, but Fox missed his second free throw, and the Kings missed their final four field-goal attempts. Jalen Wilson sealed the win for the Nets with a free throw with 9.7 seconds remaining.

Thomas shot 11-for-22 from the field, adding six assists. He made four 3-pointers, and Clowney added five more as Brooklyn outscored Sacramento 57-27 from beyond the arc.

Shake Milton contributed 10 points, and Nic Claxton grabbed seven rebounds for the Nets. Simmons had four points, shooting 2-of-3 from the floor. Brooklyn’s bench, led by Clowney and Milton, outscored Sacramento’s reserves 44-9.

For the Kings, Keegan Murray scored 21 points, DeMar DeRozan had 18, Kevin Huerter finished with 11, and Domantas Sabonis recorded 13 points, 18 rebounds, and seven assists.