Tired Nets show grit down stretch and defeat Pelicans to finish three-game road trip
The Nets bench reacts after watching a review of an out of bounds call that was overturned in their favor in the final five seconds of an NBA game against the Pelicans in New Orleans on Monday. Credit: AP/Gerald Herbert
NEW ORLEANS — The Nets had every reason to be run down while finishing a three-game road trip Monday night. At times, they looked the part with frequent turnovers as a reminder of how they lost the first two games
Yet instead of another late-game collapse, the Nets made enough right plays down the stretch to rally for a 107-105 win against the Pelicans at Smoothie King Center.
Cam Thomas made a 26-foot, step-back three-pointer with 32.5 seconds left to put the Nets (5-6) up 106-105. He then made one of two free throws after Brandon Ingram missed a jumper.
But the biggest play came from coach Jordi Fernandez following a missed three by the Pelicans’ Javonte Green.
The miss led to a jump ball between Thomas and Brandon Boston Jr. On the ensuing tip, the ball went out of bounds and the officials initially ruled the ball out of bounds to the Pelicans (3-8) with 2.5 seconds left.
Fernandez challenged the play and after review, the call was reversed. The Nets were given the ball, fans left for the exits and Dennis Schroder dribbled out the clock.
“That was crazy, because Z [Ziaire Williams] went over there and immediately told him to challenge it,” said Thomas, who had a team-high 17 points. “He was in the play, so he knew. So that’s credit to Z for being right.”
Fernandez also planned to call timeout before Thomas’ shot to try to set up a two-for-one situation. But Thomas didn’t see his coach and went for the shot before the Pelicans, who led by as many as seven in the fourth quarter, blitzed him with two defenders.
“I told the guys if it gets to 37 [seconds] and we’re unorganized, I’m going to call it,” Fernandez said. “And I saw ourselves unorganized. I was calling it, but CT, he did what he does: step back three.”
The Nets shot 19-for-42 on three-pointers, one off their season high. Thomas was 4-for-5 and backup center Noah Clowney made a career-high five on 10 attempts. The 20-year-old became the youngest Net to make that many in a single game.
The threes were needed because the Nets continued their mistakes on this trip by giving the ball away. 12 of their 17 turnovers Monday came in the second half, including six in the fourth quarter.
The Nets led 101-100 on a Thomas three with 4:38 remaining. After a Boston Jr. three returned the Pelicans to the lead, the Nets had three consecutive turnovers, putting themselves in a dangerous hole.
The same thing happened in the third quarter. They were tied at 73 with 4:13 to go, but four turnovers in just over a two-minute span spurred an 8-0 Pelicans run. The Pelicans led 85-81 at the quarter’s end.
But the Nets, as they’ve done often, made up for it with balance and grit. Williams, starting because Dorian Finney-Smith was ruled out with a left ankle sprain, took the lead defending Ingram in the second half. Ingram had 22 points at halftime but was 0-for-5 shooting in the second half and finished with 24 and nine assists.
Seven Nets scored in double figures. Ben Simmons wasn’t one of them but after sitting out Saturday’s loss for injury management, he returned with 12 assists, including 10 in the first half.
He sparked the Nets from a slow start to an early lead with six assists in the first quarter.
“It’s just getting easier and easier the more we play with each other,” Simmons said. “So, I kind of expect guys to hit shots when they’re open and when they’re in their spots.
Clowney and Cam Johnson added 15 points. Nic Claxton had 13 points and nine rebounds. Williams chipped in with 12 points and nine rebounds while also making his first three-pointer of the month after starting 0-for-12.
The Nets also out-rebounded the Pelicans 18-10 in the fourth quarter. It was a fitting way to close out the game doing the little things right after miscues caused the previous two games to slip away.
“I think the guys came together, supported each other, talked to each other constantly in the huddles. And that’s a good thing to see,” Fernandez said.
“I can be the one talking all the time, but when you see the guys talking to each other, that’s what you want. That’s how you’re building the chemistry for them.”
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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