The Nets have lost seven straight, in part because of a string of nagging injuries. Now Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell are back and Charlotte is hurting.
The missed dunk that Jalen Wilson had late in the third quarter pretty much summed up the 110-96 loss against the Sacramento Kings. Not only did the team look unathletic as a whole, the 16 second half turnovers mixed with poor 3-point shooting and a lack of bodies throughout the game cost the Nets drastically. So much so that it allowed the Kings to make a second half surge despite trailing in the first half.
Oddly enough, Brooklyn is now considered one of the teams that has their eyes on Kings star point guard De’Aaron Fox. Will the Nets get him? Odds are not really in their favor. But hey, it doesn’t hurt to remain patient.
Tonight, the Nets will take on the Charlotte Hornets, who are right behind Brooklyn in the Eastern Conference standings with a 12-31 record, meaning right ahead of the Nets in lottery odds. With Lamelo Ball absent with an ankle injury, the Nets have the chance to switch things temporarily and earn a win.
Where To Watch
Catch the action at 7:00 p.m. on YES Network and on WFAN as well as NBA League Pass.
Injury Report
No Cam Thomas, Noah Clowney, Cam Johnson, Bojan Bogdanovic, Maxwell Lewis, and DeAnthony Melton (by now, you know the reasons.) Dariq Whitehead has also been assigned to Long Island. Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell are available.
For the Hornets, Cody Martin (abdomen), Tre Mann (back), Lamelo Ball (ankle), Josh Green (foot), Mark Williams (foot), Brandon Miller (wrist), and Grant Williams (knee) are all out. Sheesh.
The Game
The Charlotte Hornets are now in the same “zombie” era that the Nets went through to close out 2024. They will certainly miss their superstar in Lamelo Ball, who has made a strong case for being the best point guard in the east. With averages of 28 and 7, Lamelo is sharing the same riches as his brother LiAngelo (who is enjoying the fruits of his labor with his new hit song.}
One player we will see is former Net Seth Curry. The 11-year pro still continues to shoot lights out with 46% coming from beyond the arc despite limited minutes.
The Nets are on a rough patch themselves as they have lost seven straight. In three of those losses, the margin has been over 20 points and the average margin is 14. But there are some positives. Ben Simmons is available as of now, which means his playmaking duties will combine well with the pace of D’Angelo Russell.
Also, Jalen Wilson is expected to contribute some benefiting minutes. Even though the dunk did not pan out for him, Wilson played 40 minutes and scored 15 minutes, while also adding some aggressive moments as he pummeled his way to the free throw line a couple of times.
Player to Watch: Miles Bridges
Despite the horrendous season from his team, Bridges himself is having a solid season as he is averaging close to 19 points a game. The high flyer has transformed his game since he first got to the pros, as he learned that his athleticism is not the only tool to have in the NBA. Fun fact, Bridges is also a rapper with a song that most young people know. The lyrics are strong, but kids love it!
Bridges will have to thrive, noted AtTheHive, our sister site on SB Nation Wednesday:
Miles Bridges looked like that pre-suspension version of himself where we thought he might have some all star potential. The Lakers couldn’t handle him as a slasher and he made some pretty wild acrobatic finishes around the rim. The only fly in the ointment was the 3-point shooting, but he still finished with a relatively efficient 26 points.
The Vault
Gelo’s song!
That that’s the Ball brothers saving grace after LaMelo’s injury. LiAngelo, the older brother released a rap that went to the top overnight, Tweaker. Gelo’s success marks a new chapter for the second of the Ball brothers, Gelo did not have so much success on the court as Lonzo and LaMelo, never getting farther than the G League and a few international gigs but an $8 deal to produce music is fine.
Gelo credits his good fortune — “made me who I am” — to the aftermath of his 2018 shoplifting arrest while in Huangzhou, China with UCLA at a college tournament. He was caught, charged with a crime and confined to his hotel room until the then executive vice chairman of Alibaba, the tournament sponsor, one Joe Tsai, got him released and safelty out of the country. The White House tried to take credit for it, but most reports have Tsai playing the key role.
More reading: AtTheHive, SBNation NBA
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Charlotte Hornets Game Notes – Charlotte Hornets
- Hornets juggling lineup changes ahead of visit from Nets – NBA
- Brooklyn faces Charlotte, seeks to halt 7-game slide – AP
- Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe staying healthy and starting to make impact – Bridget Reilly – New York Post