Nets Receive Stern Lesson from Thunder in Decisive Defeat

As the Brooklyn Nets faced off against the Oklahoma City Thunder, they were reminded of the team they aspire to become amid their ongoing rebuilding phase.

In a disappointing 105-86 defeat at the hands of the Thunder on Friday, witnessed by a crowd of 18,203 at the Paycom Center, Brooklyn’s offensive struggles were glaringly apparent.

Challenged by the defending NBA champions, the Nets managed a mere 36.7 percent shooting from the field, including a poor 7-of-41 from beyond the arc. Although they displayed more tenacity than in their previous matchup against Cleveland, their efforts were hampered by an inability to sink shots or maintain possession.

The Nets committed 21 turnovers, with 12 occurring during a decisive 21-3 run by the Thunder.

This loss nudged Brooklyn (15-40) upward in the lottery standings, as they now hold the fourth spot alone. They are a full game ahead of the fifth-place Washington Wizards, who have recently secured back-to-back victories against the also-struggling Indiana Pacers.

They’re now just a game out of second place, a tie between Indiana and New Orleans. 

The Thunder were without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), as well as Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. That didn’t stop them from improving to a league-best 43-14, not looking past the Nets. 

Michael Porter Jr. had a game-high 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Nets But playing on the tail end of a back-to-back — something he hadn’t done in their last six such occasions — he shot just 1-of-9 from 3-point range. 

Lottery pick Egor Dëmin — the Nets’ first Rising Stars participant since 2019 — looked like he’s hitting a rookie wall. He had just three points, shooting 1-of-10 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep. Fellow teen rookie Nolan Traore scored 17 points. 

Brooklyn hired former Oklahoma City director of amateur scouting Acie Law to be director of player personnel, and will look to pattern their rebuild after the Thunder. But Friday showed how far they have to go. 

The Nets had an early 23-17 lead after newcomer Ochai Agbaji’s 3-pointer with 2:26 left in the first quarter when their offense went ice-cold. 

Brooklyn conceded an extended 21-3 run over the last 9½ minutes. They missed 11 straight shots — 0-for-8 from deep — and gave away 12 turnovers to fall behind 38-26 on a Chet Holmgren free throw. 

By the time Porter found center Day’Ron Sharpe (12 points, eight rebounds, two steals in place of injured Nic Claxton) inside to staunch the bleeding with 3:30 left in the half, the game was over. 

The deficit swelled to 55-35 early in the third. 

Unlike the night before against the Cavs, this time at least the Nets tried to show some fight. Down 71-54, they ripped off a 9-0 blitz in just 1:25. 

Porter had a couple of decent finds, Jalen Wilson for a 3-pointer and then Danny Wolf for a layup that got them within 71-63. But that’s as close as it got. 

Jared McCain had 21 for the shorthanded champs.