The Brooklyn Nets and Indiana Pacers both played in their ABA-inspired uniforms tonight. Their offensive performances looked like they were straight out of the 60s and 70s, but so was Brooklyn’s defense, and it got them their first win of the season.
So, if you ask us, old is gold.
Chaney Johnson started beside Nolan Traoré at the top of the key for a second straight game tonight, but the rotation was more fluid than what we’ve seen from Jordi Fernández so far this year. The Nets went nine men deep
in the first period. Terance Mann, who has only gotten burn during garbage time so far this year, even logged some first quarter minutes.
With both teams looking to run early, those extra bodies were needed. There weren’t a lot of statistical fast break points but both teams moved up the floor with a sense of urgency off misses. Michael Porter Jr., who had a quiet night vs Detroit, was aggressive there and in the halfcourt, pitching in seven points while shooting 2-5 from deep in the first.
Outside of what MPJ provided, makes from beyond the arc were at a premium early on. When Indiana smoked Brooklyn last week, the triple was their primary weapon, as they shot 23-41 from downtown. But today, the Nets kept the safety on, limiting the Pacers to a 2-15 start from deep.
Nobody shot well from the other parts of the floor early either. In the first half, Brooklyn posted .385/.250 splits while Indiana put up .324/.200 marks. Both teams even combined to miss 10 free throws between the first two period as well.
But even as eager participants in the rock fight, the Nets led after one. Despite their 0-5 record, they’ve now won the first quarter in four straight games, and are 4-2 in the period on the season. They maintained their advantage heading into the break, up by a 43-40 score. Porter Jr led the team in scoring at that point with 13 on 5-10 shooting, followed by Mo Wagner, who added 10 after a perfect 4-4 start.
“Just taking what the game gives me,” Wagner said at halftime. “I think we’re playing really hard. We really need one.”
Get one, they did. After another string of misses, Porter Jr. began the scoring for both teams in the second half with a four point play…
Then, Traoré hit his first triple of the game off a back-tapped offensive board from Day’Ron Sharpe. That gave Brooklyn their first double digit lead of the ball game.
That make, however, seemed to open the floodgates for everyone. Sharpe buried his own three form the corner a few minutes later. He’s now shooting 3-7 from deep on the season. But the Pacers also nailed three triples in the third after making just four in the entire first half.
That kept Indiana in striking distance, and with Porter Jr. picking up his fourth foul with 4:39 to go, Brooklyn’s lead, which already felt like something out of a dream, looked at risk of fading. I might’ve too if not for Traoré and Randle, who continued to hit shots with MPJ on the bench.
But while the Nets went into the fourth up nine, the Pacers wouldn’t go away. Back to back triples from Andrew Nembhard and Larry Nance Jr. made it a three point game with 9:29 to go.
Randle and Traoré stiff armed Indiana again, closing out the game in the process as well.
After two made triples from Quenton Johnson, Julius Randle swung back with an isolation three from the top of the key before driving and assisting on two for Traoré during back to back possessions. That reestablished a 10-point lead for Brooklyn with about two and a half to play.
They didn’t have the strongest competition with Tyrese Haliburton out, but the Nets defense was good all night, and stayed that way down the stretch too, forcing the Pacers to miss four of their next five shots. It was tough, disciplined, and a crafty effort, as Noah Clowney sold an offensive “push off” foul on Nembhard with 52 seconds to go.
Already up seven, that gave the Nets a technical free throw, as Nembhard got hit with a technical with after arguing against the call, and eventually, their first win of the season.
Final: Brooklyn Nets 98, Indiana Pacers 90
Next Up
For the first time this season, the Nets will play the defending champs on Monday night at Madison Square Garden. New York’s title defense hasn’t gotten off to a great start with the team 2-4 at the time of writing. The Nets their unprotected first rounder this year, so a win here helps increase the value there. Also, it’s just good to win against the Knicks. The Nets haven’t done that since January 2023. This one tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST.
