The Brooklyn Nets played the Miami Heat for a second straight time tonight. It was honest remake. The same characters starred. There were a few creative spins on the script and plot as well. Howver, we got the same, predicable ending.
For starters, the Nets turned it over on seven of their first 11 possessions. Brooklyn’s rookie ball-handlers shouldered most of the blame their team’s poor protection of the rock the other nigh with Ben Saraf and Nolan Traoré combining for 12 turnovers. That being said,
those two played a completely clean first quarter
Traoré was especially better tonight, and in more ways than one. He opened the game with a 7/2/2 line while shooting 3-4 from the field and 1-1 from deep. Saraf had two strong takes to the basket and showed what positional size can do for you even when you don’t have the quickest feet…
That production also helped the Nets stay in even amongst their possession giveaway sale. The Nets only trailed the Heat by six after one.
Then, like they did in the first game, the Heat started doing what playoff-hungry teams are supposed to do to basement dwellers. Dru Smith, who appeared in 10 games for Brooklyn as a tw0-way player in 2023, gave Miami five points in less than four minutes to help his team establish a double digit lead.
However, Jordi Fernández has said multiple times this year he doesn’t want his team to quietly concede games like many of the other teams jockeying with Brooklyn right now for draft position. It doesn’t seem like the message always sticks, but tonight, in the humid 305, it did.
The Nets closed the second on a 14-5 run, making this a two possession game at halftime. After being -7 in turnovers in in the first, they finished +3 in the second. Ochai Agbaji, Ziaire Williams, Terance Mann, Claxton and Clowney were all in on the action with a steal each.
Michael Porter also flipped things after a rough game on Tuesday. Benefitting from the space created off those turnovers, he sprayed two threes in the period to give himself 11 points by halftime. That lifted the Nets to 7-13 shooting from three by that point. The Nets only made six threes all game on Tuesday.
Brooklyn kept pressing those buttons when play resumed. They hit another two threes to begin the second half, cracking it open with an 8-0 run that gave them their first lead since the opening minutes. Porter Jr. also added another 13 points in the third as the basket began to look like an ocean in south beach…
After Bam Adebayo picked up his fourth and fifth fouls 30 seconds apart from each other about halfway through the third, the thought of an upset victory started to creep in.
However, that intoxicating and foreign feeling quickly faded. Tyler Herro became exactly that for all the fans in attendance and Brooklyn’s greediest tank commanders hoping for a 10th straight loss. Herro scored a dozen in the frame to weigh against Porter Jr.’s production and carry the load with Adebayo handcuffed to the bench. With Jaime Jaquez Jr. and Pelle Larsson each pumping in five points during the period too, Miami reinflated its lead to 12 by the start of the fourth.
Then, in their eighth straight quarter with the Nets on their plate, the Heat refused to play with their food. Miami outscored Brooklyn 19-7 to open the period while shooting 7-8 from the field, rendering a 20+ point advantage in the process.
The Nets did respond one more time with a 9-0 punch back, but never brought the game back within single digits. They certainly tried their best, ravaging the offensive glass and keeping their starters in until 2:20 remained on the clock. However, the shots refused fall. The team looked toast, often missing short, and even on a few occasions, everything.
That’s 10 losses in a row.
Final: Miami Heat 126, Brooklyn Nets 110
Injury Report
Jordi Fernández reiterated that Egor Dëmin doesn’t have a timetable for a return tonight. He missed his third straight game this evening with plantar fasciitis.
“He’s struggled with his plantar fasciitis,” Fernández said. “The soreness has increased lately. We’re being cautious and trying to figure out what’s the best way for him moving forward.”
For anyone wondering, there isn’t a 65-game requirement for all-rookie teams, so if Dëmin’s in a running for a spot at the end of the year, these or any future games out shouldn’t affect him.
Next Up
The Nets will play the conference-leading Detroit Pistons for a final time this year on Saturday afternoon. This one could get ugly quick, so get there soon. The game tips off at 6:00 p.m. EST.
