Grueling doesn’t begin to describe the last week for the Brooklyn Nets: five games including two back-to-backs. Ugh.
Last night, the Brooklyn Nets had everything going against them. Their star in Cam Thomas had just been declared done for the season, and it just so happened that they were going against the NBA defending champions Boston Celtics. But even with all that, Brooklyn found a way to go on a surge in the second half and make the Celtics have to work for a W. While the score didn’t necessarily go their way, the Nets fought, and that’s all you can ask for this late in the season.
Tonight, the Nets will be playing the second game in another back to back, their second in a week and their fifth game in that same seven-day period. This time it will be the Atlanta Hawks who like always seem stuck between mediocrity and promise. Currently the seventh seed — and likely to play the Boston Celtics in a first round match-up — they still have Trae Young and like the Nets, they are chock full with young players who can make a difference on any given night.
Where to Watch
Catch the action at 6:00 p.m. ET on the YES Network. League Pass for the out-of-towners.
Injury Report
The status report won’t be posted till the early afternoon, but we know Nic Claxton and Trendon Watford sat Saturday night so expect them back. The question marks Sunday may be players like D’Angelo Russell and Cam Johnson (who played 35 minutes vs. Boston.) We have to wait. And yes, we won’t see Cam Thomas the rest of the way. Instead, he joins DeAnthony Melton out for the year.
For the Hawks, Clint Capela (personal reasons), Jalen Johnson (torn labrum), Kobe Bufkin (right shoulder), and Larry Nance Jr. (right knee) will all be out today. Former Net Caris LeVert is questionable.
The Game
Trae Young is having a phenomenal season averaging almost 24 points a game and a league leading 11.5 assists, The 26-year-old Young is now accompanied by a surrounding cast of young players who plays a big part in their recent success.
Dyson Daniels, a 6’7” 21-year-old from Australia is turning heads with his stellar defensive play. Just as a lot of fans, including me, thought the DPOY was turned into a big man’s award, Daniels is switching the narrative. He is one of the award favorites in part because of his league-leading three steals per game. Daniels also tops the league in defensive stops, which shows that he is borderline lockdown on the perimeter. If Cam Johnson plays, he’s likely to get the assignment.
Along with another solid young player, the overall No. 1 pick in the 2024 Draft Zaccharie Risacher, Daniels is a big part of the Hawks promise for the future, as long as Trae Young sticks around and that’s become a big question mark. He’s under contract for the next two years, but the 6’2” point guard has a player option in 2026-27, leading some pundits to wonder if he might have a wandering eye soon.
As for the Nets, energy will most likely be the deciding factor for them after just playing a grueling one against Boston. The duo of Keon Johnson and Maxwell Lewis should be effective once again, as their combination of 36 points was not only key for the Nets, but an energy boost for the fans as well. Day’Ron Sharpe will need to play the same exact way as well, as he was the man in the middle with 16 rebounds, 10 of them offensive, a career high. While the Nets could face a little trouble, Jordi Fernandez has allowed fans to be confident no matter the circumstance.
Player to Watch: Caris LeVert
Yes, he’s questionable, but you gotta want to see Caris LeVert if you’ve been a Nets fan for more than 20 minutes. Now 30 (can you believe it,) LeVert was Sean Marks first draft pick back in 2016, a surprise pick considering his three leg surgeries. LeVert missed the first 25 games of his rookie season but by the 2018-19 season, he along with D’Angelo Russell and Jarrett Allen were the team leaders in the 42-win season that paved the way for the Clean Sweep.
Earlier this year, It looked like LeVert had found a home in Cleveland with Allen and Kenny Atkinson but the NBA remains a business and so at the deadline, the Cavaliers shipped him, Georges Niang, three second-round picks and two pick swaps to Atlanta for De’Andre Hunter. The trade worked for Cleveland obviously now up to 16 straight wins, but LeVert is playing well for the Hawks. In 14 games, all off the bench, the Columbus native is averaging 16.4 points on 51/37/77 shooting splits in only 28 minutes a game. He is ever reliable.
Oh yeah, he’s an unrestricted free agent, finishing up a two-year, $32,000,000 contract he signed with Cleveland.
From the Vault
Continuing the LeVert theme, we take you back to one of the highlights of that sweet season in 2018-19, the Nets overtime win against the Boston Celtics when LeVert scored 51 points.
Only two Brooklyn Nets have scored 50+ points since then — Kevin Durant did it four times, Kyrie Irving three. On the current roster, only Cam Thomas has come close. So enjoy the nostalgia and if you’re at the game and he’s playing, give him a big cheer.
More reading: Peachtree Hoops and SBNation NBA.
- Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Atlanta Hawks Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
- Hawks look to rebound from disastrous quarter in clash vs. Nets – NBA
- Brooklyn takes on Atlanta, aims to end 3-game skid – AP