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On the road against one of the best teams in basketball Saturday, the Nets dominated Houston 110-98 for their most impressive rout of the season.
Brooklyn has followed their season-worst seven-game losing skid with their first winning streak since Nov. 24-27.
Although the win on Wednesday was against a weakened Charlotte team, Saturday’s victory was over a strong Rockets team. The Nets were ahead by as much as 22 points against a top four team in the league.
“We made sure to take the lead first. We were aware that they would try to take the lead first. I believe it spread from the first group to the second group, and we maintained that momentum throughout the entire game,” stated D’Angelo Russell.
“Everyone is giving their 100% out there. I want to give credit to the coaches for instilling that mindset and fostering a competitive environment. We put in the effort during practices and even on our off days. So when it comes to game days, we have no option but to give it our all.”
Russell guided a Nets attack that put six scorers in double figures, but they won this with ball pressure and shifts.
“We made that paint look crowded,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “Our guys were just focused, they were organized. … We didn’t turn it over. So the focus was there. The playing hard was there. And that’s how you win games in this league.”
Now the Nets come home for a six-game homestand, starting Tuesday against this same Rockets team that’s sure to be salty.
Brooklyn allowed just 40 percent shooting and 12-for-39 (31 percent) from deep. That let them get into early offense.
Ziaire Williams had 21 points, eight rebounds, three blocks and a late dagger 3 to make it 99-86 with 1:31 left.
Russell scored 18 points while Nic Claxton added 17 and five boards.
“Just starting the game intense, understanding they were going to come out trying to play physical,” Jalen Wilson said. “We just had to match that from the beginning of the game and set the tone that we’re here to play physical the entire game.”
They did just that.
Brooklyn (16-33) is a half-game behind Toronto for fifth in the lottery odds.
Jalen Green had 29 points for Houston, which played without Alperen Sengun and lost Fred VanVleet during the game.
The Nets — playing without Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson and Noah Clowney —seized the lead with a 15-5 first-quarter run and never gave it up. They led for the final 36 minutes, and by double digits for the final 25.
The Nets trailed 18-17 before they went on the blitz, Day’Ron Sharpe (13 points) capping the run with a layup that made it 32-23 with 8:55 left in the half.
Brooklyn blew it open with a 15-6 run over 5 ¹/₂ minutes in the third.
Leading 68-55 with 5:44 in the period, Tosan Evbuomwan’s layup with 3.7 seconds left put the Nets up 83-61. The fourth was garbage time.