Brooklyn Nets sleepwalk to loss against Philadelphia 76ers, 123-94

That was certainly a basketball game. If you stayed awake for it, that is.

Pregame injury news killed the party before it even kicked off at Barclays Center on Saturday. The Brooklyn Nets, with a hint of momentum in their pocket, were set to take on a sluggish Philadelphia 76ers team returning from an unfortunate West Coast swing; they’d even be able to leapfrog Philly in the standings with a win!

Two hours before tip-off, Brooklyn put out the following injury report, detailing that Cam Johnson will miss at least three games with his ankle sprain, and Cam Thomas will miss at least the next nine after suffering what the team called “new” left hamstring strain.

Said Head Coach Jordi Fernández: “I think it was discomfort, because at some point, I can see the difference between the first half and second half, energy-wise and efficiency. But I can also think, ‘Well, you haven’t played in a while, so, you know, you’re not as fresh,’ so I don’t know. I have no idea but, you know, he did a good job getting back and being ready to play.”

We didn’t even get the storyline of Ben Simmons facing his former team, as Simmons was a late scratch with calf tightness. And D’Angelo Russell’s return to Barclays Center as a member of the home team? It was cut short after he dropped five points and four assists in 14 first-half minutes, after which he exited with a shin contusion.

Alas, the game was already decided by then.

Despite a 13-21 start to the season, Jordi Fernández and the Brooklyn Nets deserve major credit for playing exciting game after exciting game despite both poor health and a constantly shuffling roster. The team plays with maximum effort, and Fernández’s staff has implemented simple-but-effective playbooks on the fly for whoever is available, squeezing water from a rock.

On Saturday, the camel’s back broke. Brooklyn sprinted out of the gates on an 11-0 run, and then the Philadelphia 76ers went on a 76-38 run. How many celebrations Joel Embiid would get fined for (at least two), and whether he and Nic Claxton would finally drop the gloves and start fighting at mid-court (somehow, no) were the most intriguing variables.

“We compiled a lot of mistakes,” said Fernández. “And you know, like I told the guys, I think a mistake is always okay, because you always have a chance to to get it back, but it’s always hard when you make a mistake, you’re thinking about the mistake and making another one.”

Despite Keon Johnson making some highlight plays…

…he could not carry Brooklyn to passable offense, shooting 5-of-14 en route to a 15/7/8 line.

Now this is what the depths of rebuilding looks like. Jalen Wilson, Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton, and Tyrese Martin also reached double-figures, making some plays here and there that existed independlty of the game flow, if the open-run atmosphere of the second half qualifies as game flow.

Williams made some threes and threw down an alley-oop dunk, as did Claxton, while Tyrese Martin made a couple plays that made onlookers purse their lips and raise their eyebrows…

Players that will one day become in-group winks among Nets fans to prove their die-hard nature touched the floor, though mostly to meet the five-man requirement.

Brooklyn’s newest two-way, Tosan Evbuonwam, made a three for his first bucket as a Net, then air-balled his next attempt as a battered Barclays crowd let out a Bronx cheer that Evbuonwam didn’t deserve. Reece Beekman got into Tyrese Maxey’s jersey a couple times. Day’Ron Sharpe had a nice block on an Andre Drummond drive.

Speaking of Drummond, Barclays Center accidentally flashed a Mr. Whammy graphic on the big screen while Drummond shot free-throws, either forgetting that Whammy doesn’t jeer former Nets, or more likely, forgetting that Drummond was indeed a Net. I don’t blame them for that one.

After the first media timeout of the fourth quarter, the 76ers ran a set play that saw Kyle Lowry run off a double-stagger and swish a three. Jogging back down the court, he pointed and smiled at his bench, perhaps knowing it could be the last out-of-timeout play ever called for him.

By the end of the YES Network broadcast, Richard Jefferson’s shirt was nearly all the way unbuttoned, though still no sign of chest hair…

The minutia was not just more interesting than the game itself, it was the game itself.

This loss, as any, is likelier to help the Brooklyn Nets in the long-term. Trade rumors and whispers aside, every move the front office made in 2024 pointed in one direction, though it might necessitate a miserable 2025. Pragmatic? Possibly. Satisfying? Only if your stomach is strong enough.

But easy on the eyes, and on the soul, it is not.

“Tomorrow, we’ll watch film, we’ll do some walkthroughs, and start building from there.” — Jordi Fernández

Final Score: Philadelphia 76ers 123, Brooklyn Nets 94

Injury Report

Per Jordi Fernández, Ben Simmons felt tightness during his pregame warmup routine, and was subsequently ruled out, but no further update was given. Same for D’Angelo Russell, who took a hit to the shin in the first half, after which the medical staff decided to rest him.

As for the Cams, see above.

Milestone Watch

Torisesan “Tosan” Evbuomwan (pronounced Eh-WHOA-Ma) became the first British-born player to take the court for the Nets on Saturday evening. His entire basketball journey has been a whirlwind, from helping to start the basketball team at his high school in the U.K., to playing for four different G League teams and two different NBA squads before his 24th birthday.

“[There is] absolutely nothing to, you know, complain about. This — in terms of the individual part — is what I work for, these types of opportunities. Again, really blessed to be back here,” he said postgame.

Evbuomwan describes himself as “a versatile player at both ends. I can do a lot of things and I’m really just about the team and about winning, playing winning basketball.”

Elsewhere:

• Ziaire Williams tied his career-high with four 3-point makes, en route to a team-high 19 points.
• Keon Johnson’s eight assists tied his career-high.

Next Up

Photo by Brennan Asplen/Getty Images

The Nets stay in Brooklyn, and after an off-day, they will face the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

• Boxscore: Philadelphia 76ers 123. Brooklyn Nets 94 – NBA