The Brooklyn Nets shocked the Golden State Warriors, as they defeated them 128-120 at the Chase Center. The Nets were coming into this game having beaten the Sacramento Kings the night before. But to say that they were favorites against the best team in the Western Conference would be nothing short of a lie.
Dennis Schroder was absolutely phenomenal, putting up 31 points (10-18 FG), seven assists, five rebounds, and two steals. Cam Thomas exited the game in the third quarter with an injury but still had a decent game with 23 points (6-11 FG), three rebounds, and one assist. Ziare Williams (19 PTS, 9 REB) and Jalen Wilson (18 PTS, 6 REB) were also massive for the injury-riddled Nets.
The Golden State Warriors, expectedly, were led by Stephen Curry, who had 28 points (8-17 FG), seven assists, and four rebounds, while going a massive 8-16 from deep. Andrew Wiggins had a quiet night, with just 18 points (7-13 FG), four rebounds, and one assist. Moses Moody tried to help off the bench, with 15 points (6-8 FG), two rebounds, and one assist, but it wasn’t enough to help the Warriors win.
The Nets had to deal with losing their two best players this season, Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas, early in the game. But despite this, they were able to overcome an 18-point lead from the Warriors and win in very impressive fashion.
Here are three reasons why the Nets shocked the Warriors:
Nets Overcome Johnson And Thomas Injuries
Two key moments in the game occurred when Cam Johnson and Cam Thomas left the game with separate injuries. Johnson hurt his knee in the first quarter. A high ankle sprain later in the game caused Johnson to call time tonight, going to the locker room at the end of the first half.
As for Cam Thomas, he aggravated a back injury he sustained on Sunday night against the Kings and left the game in the third quarter. The two players had been phenomenal for the Nets, with Johnson putting up five points, two rebounds, two assists, and one steal in just 14 minutes. Thomas had 23 points (6-11 FG), three rebounds, and one assist while shooting 3-7 from deep.
One would imagine that the pair’s absence in the fourth quarter really hurt the Nets. But despite the Warriors’ quality, the Nets’ toughness and never-say-die attitude was just too much for the Warriors to make any comeback.
Jalen Wilson and Dennis Schroder, scoring five and 17 points respectively in the fourth quarter, did their best leading the team and helped them secure the big win.
Nets Precise Shooting Wins The Game
The Nets took on the Warriors, one of the best three-point shooting teams in the NBA, and completely showed them up. The Warriors shot 41.3% from three, making 19 of their 46 attempts. That can be considered very good, even by the Warriors’ lofty standards.
However, the Nets were just marginally better on the night, shooting 20-45 from three, making 44.5% of their shots. But the game wasn’t just won on the three-point line. The Nets were also able to draw a lot of shooting fouls and get to the charity stripe, making 26 of their 30 free-throw shots, making 86.6% of their attempts.
Whereas, the Warriors just reached the free-throw line 17 times and made just 11 of their attempts, shooting a mediocre 64.7% from the stripe. On an off night for the Warriors, the Nets were able to capitalize and get a big win.
Jordi Fernandez Puts On Coaching Masterclass
It is truly hard to fathom how the middling Nets were able to defeat the best team in the Western Conference. New Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez must be praised for the way he has coached this team to continuously fight and never give up on a single possession.
The Nets had everything going against them tonight. They were playing in the second game of a back-to-back, away from home, against the best team in the West, and lost two of their best players by the end of the third quarter. But somehow, he was able to rally his entire team to continue battling and get a big win.
Many expected the Nets to be a tanking team this season. But Jordi Fernandez has inspired a seemingly average squad to be more than that. Nets fans will have mixed feelings about this, as while they appreciate Fernandez’s coaching, they want to be a worse team to have better chances at a high draft pick.
The Nets will play next on Wednesday night at 9:00 PM EST, as they take on the Phoenix Suns in the final game of their road trip. With the confidence of beating two of the better teams in the West, the Nets might want to get the last laugh against their former franchise star, Kevin Durant.
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