Oof.
The Brooklyn Nets opened NBA Cup play with a Friday night matchup against the Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn got off to a great start and looked like they were going to give last year’s top seed in the Eastern Conference a good fight. Unfortunately for the home fans, they watched the Nets suffer another blowout. Brooklyn let things slip in the middle of the game and lost 110-94.
They’re now the only winless team in the NBA, sitting at 0-5 to begin the season.
The opponent tonight projects to be a contender
for the NBA Championship. That is, if everyone is healthy. The Indiana Pacers are hoping to get back to the NBA Finals after missing out last season. It’s early, but the road back to the postseason has been a rocky one. They were on the road Friday night against the new look Miami Heat and lost 144-125.
Game Info and Broadcast Details
- Matchup: Brooklyn Nets (0-5) vs. Indiana Pacers (2-4)
- Time: 5 PM EST (4 PM CST)
- Location: Gainbridge Fieldhouse (Indianapolis, Indiana)
- TV/Streaming: YES Network, WFAN Radio, DAZN
Nets-Pacers Injury Report: Who’s Out?
Brooklyn Nets
- OUT – Egor Demin (right bone bruise)
- OUT – Mikel Brown Jr (back injury management)
Indiana Pacers
- Out – Tyrese Haliburton (left hamstring strain)
- Out – Ben Sheppard (left meniscus surgery)
- Out – Ivica Zubac (left ankle sprain)
- Out – Johnny Furphy (right ACL surgery)
- Out – T.J. McConnell (right hamstring strain)
- Probable – Aaron Nesmith (left hamstring strain)
- Questionable – Obi Toppin (low back soreness)
The Game
Indiana won the first meeting 136-109 on October 25.
This is the first leg of a back-to-back for the Nets. They return to the city for a matchup against the New York Knicks on Monday night at the Garden.
The Nets are off to their worst possible start, and Friday’s loss to Detroit didn’t do much to inspire confidence. People can accept losing, but they can’t accept poor effort. Brooklyn’s latest defeat left plenty of questions about the team’s effort and execution. This year was supposed to be different for the Nets, but it looks all too familiar.
Nolan Traore will get all the minutes he can handle tonight. With Demin and Brown Jr out, it’s on him to man the point. That’s a lot on his shoulders. He’ll need to dictate the offense and generate downhill pressure. If he does get to the rim, the Nets need him to turn those opportunities into points.
In October, the Nets were dead last in the NBA in field goal percentage inside the restricted area at 55.2 percent. That’s a troubling number against a Pacers team that has allowed opponents to shoot just 60.2 percent inside the restricted area, the third-best mark in the league. The home team need something to break their way, and if they want to finally break into the win column, it’ll take a total team effort.
Maybe the new month is what the doctor ordered?
Andrew Nembhard is probably never going to make an All-Star Game, but he’s someone I’d love to have on my side. He’s someone you can trust to make something happen with the game on the line. He’s also become more efficient while taking on a bigger offensive role.
Brooklyn will have its hands full with the speedy guard, who’s averaging 17.6 points and eight assists per game.
Player to Watch: Pascal Siakam
Siakam has been one of the better forwards in the NBA in the 2020s. He’s done well in his various roles and can scale his scoring up when the moment calls for it. He’s been turning the ball over at a career-high clip to start the year, but that is something to monitor as Indiana navigates the early part of its schedule. Without Haliburton, the four-time All-Star will have to up his game and take on more of the scoring load to offset the absence of their franchise player.
Brooklyn also needs more from Julius Randle. He discussed the process on offense after Friday’s game, and he shared some interesting insights about what the Nets need to improve:
Brooklyn has to find their purpose, and fast. If the team can’t play with more pace and with more success at the rim, a long season is guaranteed to get even longer.
From the Vault
Ones in the air for Sir Patrick Stewart
And with WWE hosting two shows at Barclays Center tomorrow night, let’s take a look back at one of the greatest matches of all time
More reading: Circle City Spin, Fieldhouse Files, Sports Illustrated, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Nets Insider, SNY, Yahoo Sports, CBS Sports, Steve’s Newsletter
