CAM-TASTIC!
Thomas gets start, racks up 37 to lead needy Nets to win over Rockets
The Nets finally had a breakthrough, but barely.
They couldn’t hold on to an early lead that grew to as many as 28 points, yet they squeezed out a victory in the final quarter, something they failed to do in five of the last six games.
The 106-104 victory over the Rockets on Saturday night at Barclays Center marks the Nets’ 18th of the season, although ugly, and first since a road win against the Lakers on Jan. 19.
Cam Thomas showed his value as a starter in place of Cam Johnson, who was out for personal reasons. Thomas scored a game- high 37 points — his eighth 30-plus point game this season. Mikal Bridges added 19, shooting 6-for-14 overall and 3-for-8 from deep.
“Sometimes it’s human nature when you’re up by a lot just to relax. But it’s the NBA, being up 28, especially that early is nothing, man,” Mikal Bridges said after the game. “You can cut it to 20 so fast like they did. Then you can cut it to 12 and now it’s right there. We just relaxed, really that’s what it was. Credit to them for just keep playing hard and being down and just keep fighting.”
Dorian Finney-Smith contributed 19 points, seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and two blocks over 31 minutes before he left the game with a left ankle injury. He exited the game with 3:45 left in the third quarter after looking shaken up following a block of a Cam Whitmore shot.
No update on Finney-Smith was given by head coach Jacque Vaughn after the game.
The Nets took an 88-70 lead into the fourth quarter, but the Rockets tested them, getting within six points with 5:14 to go.
After a dunk from Whitmore changed the energy in Barclays Center, Dillon Brooks fouled Nic Claxton, who missed both free throws. Whitmore charged the other end on the following possession to drain a 3-pointer to make it 97-91.
A Fred VanVleet turnover led to a 3-pointer from Thomas to make it 101-93. But a 1-for-2 trip to the line by Spencer Dinwiddie and a jumper from Brooks got the Rockets within five with 2:14 to go.
Things continued to get dicey for the
Nets down the stretch. Alperen Segun missed the second of two free throws with 10.1 seconds to play, allowing the Nets to hold a 103-99 advantage. But Spencer Dinwiddie’s attempt to corral the rebound failed. The ball eventually wound up in the hands of Amen Thompson, who drilled a step-back 3-pointer for a 103-102 game with 7.1 seconds to play.
“Just keep calm and win the game at this point,” Bridges said.“Obviously, we let it get this close. Just gotta win at this point. That’s basically what it was.” Thomas made a pair of free throws at the other end for a 105102 lead before Bridges fouled VanVleet to prevent a 3-point attempt. VanVleet made the first free throw and purposely missed the second. The Nets again failed to secure the rebound and Segun wound up on the line, making one of two to again trim Brooklyn’s lead to 105-104 with 2.4 seconds left.
Dinwiddie made one of two on the other end, but the Nets this time grabbed the rebound and the win.
“It’s just playing with the lead when a team makes a run,” Vaughn said. “And whether it’s inbounding the basketball, whether it is taking care of it so you don’t turn it over. I’m really trying to stress to our team how you value the possessions in the second quarter as they are, it’s still as valuable in the fourth quarter. I did feel we were more comfortable in the fourth quarter. Even when they were making the run, the conversation between our guys was good going back to the huddle, in the huddle. So that’s a big difference from what it was a month ago. So I’m gonna take away the positive piece of it. We’re in these situations over and over again, which is good, and we’re learning how to deal with it.”
Thomas was on a roll from the start, scoring 11 points, shooting 5-for-8 in the opening quarter. He also added three assists, three rebounds and a steal on the night.
Claxton posted a double-double of 10 points and 13 boards and held down the paint for the Nets.
Saturday was a somewhat positive end to a tough week for the Nets, but what lies ahead is Ben Simmons’ return, which they hope puts their previous losing skid behind them.