NEW ORLEANS – After heartbreaks in Boston and Cleveland, the Nets confronted instinctive management in New Orleans.
It turned out that their guts had been simply positive.
The Nets turned issues round after their late lead, coming from behind to rally for a 107-105 victory over the Pelicans in entrance of a sold-out crowd of 16,895 on the Smoothie King Middle.
Trailing 105-101 with 1:16 to play, the Nets obtained a layup from Cam Johnson, a go-ahead 3-pointer from Cam Thomas and a few defensive stands to make that shot the game-winner.
“It was large for us as a result of I really feel like we had just a few video games in opposition to actually good groups the place we performed them to the top and we did not end in fourth,” Noah Clowney stated . “So for us to complete fourth, I felt prefer it was a giant step in the precise course. And it isn’t at all times fairly, however we have achieved it.
Thomas missed one in every of two from the free throw line with 14.9 seconds left in regulation to offer New Orleans an opportunity to tie it with two factors.
Javonte Inexperienced missed the three, then after Thomas grabbed a rebound and located himself tied up, he ended up with a soar ball.
The ball went out of bounds, initially dominated out by the Nets. However a problem from Jordi Fernandez was profitable. They obtained it again and Dennis Schroder ran out of time.
The Nets (5-6) misplaced in time beyond regulation Friday to the defending champion Celtics, then blew a fourth-quarter lead the subsequent night time to the league’s final undefeated Cavaliers. However they obtained again on monitor Monday.
The Nets tied a season excessive with seven gamers scoring in double figures, led by Thomas’ 17. Ben Simmons distributed a file 12 assists coming off the bench.
After watching New Orleans star Brandon Ingram tear them aside for 22 factors within the first half, the Nets doubled down on the ball and held it to only two within the second half.
They handed the injury-riddled Pelicans (3-7) – taking part in with out Zion Williamson and CJ McCollum – their fifth straight loss.
Simmons helped spark a 13-4 run to shut the primary quarter, principally by the second unit.
He dished out six assists within the first quarter and had 10 on the break to affix James Harden – the person he was traded for in 2022 – as the one Nets to notch double-digit assists in a single halftime in opposition to New Orleans.
The Nets allowed 10 with out a response from the Pelicans, capped by Johnson’s cross supposed for Clowney who was recovered by Antonio Reeves.
It broke Johnson’s NBA file, a streak with out a turnover in seven straight video games, and left the Nets trailing 32-29 with 9:37 left within the half.
Ziaire Williams’ 3-pointer ended his streak of 14 consecutive misses courting again to final month and knotted him at 43 total.
It was nonetheless tied at 73 after a Claxton hook with 4:29 left within the third. The Nets went on an 8-0 run over the subsequent two minutes, capped by Daniel Theis’ layup, to dig themselves right into a gap.
The Nets had been nonetheless trailing 96-90, earlier than coming again to equalize with an 8-2 run. Clowney made his fifth 3-pointer — at 20 years, 120 days, the youngest Internet to take action — and made them even with 5:11 left.
Ingram scored his first factors of the second half to interrupt the impasse with 4:53 remaining. Thomas made a 3-pointer to place the Nets forward, 101-100, however Ingram discovered Brandon Boston Jr. for a 3-pointer.
Then, Boston’s breakaway following a Williams turnover made it 105-101.
Johnson’s layup reduce the deficit in half, and after Boston missed a layup, Thomas’ 3-pointer gave the Nets the lead with 32.5 seconds left in regulation.
They assured that there could be no time beyond regulation.
