Today is one of the biggest days for Brooklyn Nets for the lamest of reasons. As the regular season inches closer to its conclusion, all moves made in the “tank race” are more magnified. With Brooklyn facing the Sacramento Kings, who sat just a half game behind Brooklyn entering tonight’s contest, the benefits of a loss and drawbacks of a win loomed larger than anything.
A few hundred miles away in the backdrop, Darryn Peterson’s collegiate career also came to an end, which also helped set the odd
stage.
Brooklyn started this afternoon with Nolan Traoré, Drake Powell, and Danny Wolf for a fourth straight game. It was their first one, however, where they didn’t do so with Nic Claxton out there as well, who sat tonight for rest. Michael Porter Jr. (Left Hamstring Strain) and Noah Clowney (Right Wrist Sprain) joined him on the bench.
The advantages and disadvantages of going small were clear early on. Sacramento built up an early lead attacking the paint and dominating the glass in the first period 14-6. Brooklyn kept stride, stretching the floor and shooting 6-10 from deep. Wolf, who led early with seven points on 3-5 shooting, nailed one, as did Traore.
However, it was the LIRR that brought Brooklyn to its first advantage tonight. The team’s G-Leaguers continued their impressive play up on the professional stage on the road this evening. Tyson Etienne and Malachi Smith each went 2-2 from deep in the first period. They helped fuel the 10-0 run in the heart of the opening frame that put Brooklyn in front.
And while small ball continued to bring the Nets positive returns, Brooklyn shrank beyond control in the second. A few minutes into it, Danny Wolf rolled his ankle after a finish inside. The Nets ruled him out for the game with a left ankle sprain a few minutes after they walked him back to the locker room.
And while Wolf’s health going forward was and surely remains Brooklyn’s primary concern, in the immediate, his injury left the team with little-to-no resistance against Maxime Raynaud and Precious Achiuwa anytime they rolled to the basket. Those two combined for 16 points in the period while shooting 7-11 from the field.
Nonetheless, Brooklyn was able to protect its lead through halftime. After committing 15 turnovers agains the New York Knicks and 23 against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they had just one in the first half tonight.
E.J. Liddell started for Wolf to begin the third. With him being just six-foot-six, the Kings stuck with what had worked.
Who they couldn’t hang with, however, was Ziaire Williams. He did it all for Brooklyn in a game where they looked for a lot of different things in inauspicious places, especially in the third quarter. While battling on the glass, shooting, defending the perimeter, and even playmaking on a few occasions, he finished with 18 points, three assists, two rebounds, two steals, and a block.
The Nets maintained a slight edge for the majority of the third, which became a far slower period than either of its predecessors thanks to a handful of reviews and scuffling between Terance Mann and DeMar DeRozan. However, a handful of swing plays ended in Sacramento’s favor in the period’s final few seconds, which was enough to give them a three point advantage entering the fourth.
There, we got more fun, back-and-forth action anyone bargained had for in a game between lottery-bound teams. Sacramento’s defense, devoid of speed and physicality, looked to be tailor-made for a crafty guy with good footwork like Ben Saraf, who had an easy time probing inside. He finished with a career-high 22 points on 10-20 shooting, along with five assists and a steal.
Doug McDermott also reminded you he’s still in the league, plays for the Sacramento Kings, and that a shooter’s touch never ages. He splashed two threes in the fourth’s first three minutes to help build a six point lead, their largest of the game. Patrick Baldwin Jr. also caught the defense napping twice with two threes made.
But while were often more inspired by the unsung heroes, infatuated by young prospects, and impressed by gritty G-League products, in the end, games are won by teams with the better players, and Sacramento had the two best in DeMar DeRozan and Malik Monk. They also made it clear when it mattered most.
Out of a timeout after the Nets had cut it to two with a little under three to go, DeRozan hit the same buttery mid-range fadeaway he’s been burying for years to re-extend the lead. The Next two times down, Monk added five points after a near-poster on Malachi Smith and his seventh three of the game.
Brooklyn answered, but it was a hair too little, too late. The Nets put together a 7-0 run in the final minute to make it a 120-121 game, capped off after Achiuwa committed a goal-tending violation on a Traoré drive. However, the Kings pressed all the right buttons to seal the deal. They moved the ball well, hit their free throws, and unlike Santa Clara, knew it wasn’t 2007 anymore, and that you should always foul when up three.
Final: Sacramento Kings 126, Brooklyn Nets 122
Injury Report
The Nets tagged Wolf with a left ankle sprain when ruling him out tonight. He tried to walk off the floor on his own power, then got some help from some teammates and trainers, then needed to stop for a bit even with the assistance before getting to the tunnel. We’ll provide updates on him as they come on.
Next Up
Brooklyn’s final road trip of the season continues on Monday with a trip to Rip City. The Trail Blazers beat the Nets handily less than a week ago. This will be the final part of Brooklyn’s last back-to-back sequence of the season. It tips off at 10:00 p.m. EST.
