News Nets Team Notes

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets survive near-collapse vs. Chicago Bulls, win 112-109

Ishika Samant/Getty Images

The Brooklyn Nets returned home to face the Chicago Bulls on Friday night after completing a miraculous 3-game road trip. Miraculously, the Nets lost all games to teams with a combined 39-70 record. Perhaps it’s a sign that this year’s attempt at tanking is blessed by the basketball gods, but that’s no consolation to Head Coach Jordi Fernández.

“I don’t think I really move on [from tough losses],” said Jordi with half a smile pregame. “It’s what I tell the players, but me personally, it’s a different story.”

The trip began with the Nets blowing a late eight-point lead to the Memphis Grizzlies as the hosts closed on a 13-0 run; it ended with Saddiq Bey hitting a 30-foot prayer and the New Orleans Pelicans winning a contest they only led for five minutes. But while those losses featured late-game heartbreak, their loss to the Dallas Mavericks may have been the most improbable. Dallas, the worst 3-point shooting team in the league, shot 44% from deep compared to just 24% for the Nets. It still came down to clutch time.

The Chicago Bulls have survived Josh Giddey’s absence, a respectable 4-4 since their leader injured his hamstring, but they would need similar luck to hand Brooklyn their sixth straight loss. Early on, they didn’t get it. Six different Brooklyn Nets hit a 3-pointer in the first quarter, then Danny Wolf opened up the second quarter by going glass at the end of the shot-clock…

Danny Wolf uses the glass to connect from deep and beat the shot clock

Nets leading the Bulls in the 2Q on NBA League Pass! pic.twitter.com/ewviUbb9qw

— NBA (@NBA) January 17, 2026

It seemed like it was just one of those nights. For both teams. Ten Nets played, ten Nets scored, and the team as a whole shot 19-of-40 from deep. Conversely, the Bulls committed just eight turnovers and shot 58.8% inside the arc, playing a respectable offensive game without Giddey … aside from the fact that they couldn’t throw a seashell in the ocean, shooting 5-of-23 from deep through three quarters.

As such, the Nets were in cruise control, beginning with a dominant second quarter. Wolf’s bank shot certainly helped, but he had a solid night overall. After entering the night shooting under 38% from the floor in the new year, Wolf put up 13/4/4 on 5-of-8 shooting. Crucially, he didn’t turn it over once…

.@Daniel_Wolf6 did just about everything in the final 2:41 of the third:

3-pointer then
Steal then
Assist then
Block then
Rebound then
Layup then
Rebound then
Rebound then
Layup pic.twitter.com/xjsoffP1Ec

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) January 17, 2026

The rookies in the starting lineup, Egor Dëmin and Drake Powell, weren’t as impactful, combining for eight points on 2-of-11 shooting. However, Nolan Traore picked up the slack off the bench, hitting a couple 3-pointers and dishing six assists…

Nolan skip passes. pic.twitter.com/Jt9L6UrOAh

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 17, 2026

As a reward, Nolan closed the game over Dëmin, and somehow, the pressure was on. What had been a comfortable game for two hours turned sweaty in the fourth quarter as the Bulls finally woke up from three, with four makes from Jalen Smith. That uneasy feeling swept through Barclays Center with the Nets looking down the barrel of another excruciating loss, missing layup after layup and turning it over anytime Chicago needed a boost…

TRE FOR THE LEAD.@Tre3Jones | @CHSN__ pic.twitter.com/kS2389oXdB

— Chicago Bulls (@chicagobulls) January 17, 2026

Fernández’s nightmare quickly turned reality; suddenly, the Nets were inbounding, trailing by one. He didn’t draw up anything too complex — a simple pin down for Michael Porter Jr. — but the Bulls were confused nonetheless. Coby White switched onto the much taller MPJ, who curled the screen, bounced off White’s hip downhill, and finished a layup with 5.4 seconds left.

Did Jordi draw it up exactly like that, down to the last detail? Not exactly: “No, I just need him to catch the ball after that. He knows what he’s doing.”

Michael Porter Jr., likely All-Star, was a worthy hero as any. Noah Clowney got off the schneid, hitting four threes to notch a 23-and-11 double-double while Nic Claxton put up 7/14/5, his season-high in rebounds. Still, it was MPJ who led all scorers with 26, scoring 12 of Brooklyn’s 23 fourth-quarter points.

But the Nets did need one final stop, and it was here the Drake Powell erased any concern about his quiet offensive night. Tre Jones attempted to enter it to Nikola Vučević, who led them in scoring with 19, at the top of the key. It appeared the visitors were setting up a handoff with White, simply trying to put their two most dynamic threats in an action together, but they never got there…

STOLEN by Drake Powell pic.twitter.com/AZvVwYyDoz

— YES Network (@YESNetwork) January 17, 2026

Powell pogo’d, reached out, deflected the pass, and secured the loose ball. Clowney then made his free-throws, while Vooch missed a desperation heave as the buzzer sounded. To Drake, it seemed simple: “Just trying to have active hands, high activity on the ball, and just do my best to make a tough entry pass. That was the main thing.”

The Nets did juuuust enough, buoyed by a couple heroic plays from a vet and a rookie. The Nets mercifully won a close game, and Jordi Fernández could exhale: “The lesson is that there’s no safe lead in the NBA. Teams will always punch back and obviously, give them credit … but it’s way better to learn that winning than losing, right?”

“It was a little bit of déjà vu, just seeing the game kind of slipped away, but it’s nice figuring out ways to win those games as opposed to figuring out ways to lose them.” — Nic Claxton

Final Score: Brooklyn Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 109

Milestone Watch​

• Michael Porter Jr.’s game-winning layup with 5.4 seconds remaining tonight was his second career go-ahead field goal with under ten seconds remaining.
• This was Clowney’s 10th career game with 20 points and his sixth of the season, his 11 rebounds were also a career-high. This was his second career double-double.

The win didn’t move the Nets up in the Tankathon rankings. They remain in fifth but now two games behind Washington and Utah who are tied for third and fourth. So not big deal.

Next Up​

This was the first half of a home-and-home, so next up for the Brooklyn Nets is the Chicago Bulls over at their place. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:00 p.m. ET on Sunday evening.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 109 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 112, Chicago Bulls 109 (Video) – NBA
• Final 4:47 Crazy Ending (Video) – NBA

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...-bulls-112-109-michael-porter-jr-drake-powell

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET

Brooklyn is back home after losing their last three on the road to Memphis, Dallas and New Orleans — extending their skid to five straight. Tankers unite. The Bulls come in winners of two straight and beat the Nets 113‑103 in the first meeting.

---

KEY INFO​

Chicago Bulls (19-21) @ Brooklyn Nets (11-27)

Tip-off: 7:30 PM ET
Arena: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
TV: YES Network
Radio: WFAN Sports

---

INJURY REPORT​

Brooklyn Nets​

Ziaire Williams — OUT (illness)
Haywood Highsmith — OUT (knee)

Chicago Bulls​

Josh Giddey — OUT (hamstring)
Noa Essengue — OUT (shoulder, season)
Zach Collins — OUT (toe)

---

Discussion​

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-disc...sion-chicago-bulls-at-brooklyn-nets-730-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Noah Clowney’s extension is a looming question for Brooklyn Nets

The Brooklyn Nets’ youth movement has been well documented this year. How could it not? In any conversation involving the team, you can’t get more than a minute or two without someone mentioning it. After all, Brooklyn made history seven months ago when it picked five players in the NBA draft, which we’ve since dubbed the Flatbush Five.

Indeed, the kids at the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush have received more attention than anyone this year. But while Brooklyn’s youth may start with the 2025 Draft class, it certainly doesn’t end there. Like the Flatbush Five, Noah Clowney is also on his rookie deal and that means this coming Summer, he’ll be eligible for an extensive and say sources, he’s likely get multiple offers and not insignificant ones. That of course is evident to Nets fans and the organization after games like Friday night when he had a double-double, 23 points and 11 rebounds, and some clutch moments..

Clowney, drafted by the Nets now two summers ago, entered this season at just 21 years of age. His birthday is in July. Danny Wolf, who the Nets drafted with their last pick this past summer, is also 21, though 70 days older that Clowney with a birthday in May.

But while Wolf may have extra months of life, Clowney has two NBA seasons on him, and it’s shown so far during Brooklyn’s 2025-26 campaign. Through 39 games, Clowney is averaging 13.3 points, 1.9 assists, and 4.1 rebounds per game. All clock in as career-highs, as do his 4.0 free throw attempts per game. Teams are also scoring less with him on the court for the first time in his career. Brooklyn is +9.3 point per 100 possessions better with him on the floor vs without.

Noah Clowney just obliterated Ryan Kalkbrenner.

For anyone wondering, Clowney is two years younger than him. pic.twitter.com/9wG6Y4OL58

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) December 2, 2025

But the “eye test” signals progress as well. For two seasons, he seemed to be nothing more than super-sized sharpshooter at the offensive end, but the Alabama product’s made an extra effort this year to put the ball on the floor, attacking closeouts and set defenders alike.

Noah Clowney REALLY making the leap (literally and figuratively) here.

Absolutely destroyed Sandro Mamukelashvili. pic.twitter.com/UeE8l2mnve

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) November 24, 2025

He also appears to have put on more muscle. By all accounts, the improvement for Clowney has been no joke.

But for all that, there’s been little, if any attention to Clowney’s being eligible for an extension this coming summer. The basics are these: Brooklyn has him under contract until the summer of 2027. He’s eligible to sign a multi-year extension this July, which would kick in during the 2027-28 season. Clowney will be a restricted free agent meaning the Nets can match any offer.

Given his rise, a number of teams are likely to have interest in Clowney. A league source who’s familiar with their thinking has told NetsDaily that the San Antonio Spurs could be a part of that group, with an extension around $50 million over four years, an average of $12.5 million a year, a significant number in the Nets rebuild.

While Clowney has dramatically improved his offensive, some in the league think that his defense could hurt him when talks begin whether with the Nets or another team. That might be less of a concern for San Antonio who have Victor Wembenyama behind him.

While expected to compete in the Western Conference this year, the Spurs could be attractive. They represent one of the NBA’s surprise teams this year. They’re currently tied with the Denver Nuggets for the league’s third best record at 28-13 and are moving quicker toward title contention perhaps sooner than they intended.

If they have a gap anywhere in their rotation, its at the position Clowney plays as well. Harrison Barnes has started every game for San Antonio at the four this year, but is averaging his fewest points per game in over a decade. ESPN’s Kevin Pelton also recently named Jeremy Sochan as a trade deadline “player to watch.”

Historically, the Nets have not waited till to the last minute to negotiate. They signed Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson to extensions well before things got hairy. In both cases, the contract was front-loaded. In the case of Day’ron Sharpe last summer, they were able to use the lack of cap space in the NBA to negotiate a surprisingly team-friendly deal.

Of course, if Michael Porter Jr. stays with Brooklyn after the trade deadline and draft, he too will be eligible for an extension that will also kick in in 2027-28. Maximum: four years, $243 million. Would that complicate the Clowney negotiations? Unlikely … at the moment.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-free...nsion-is-a-looming-question-for-brooklyn-nets

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Nets vs. Bulls preview: a busy Sunday in Chicago

Let’s do it again. The Chicago Bulls almost pulled off an improbable comeback, but the Brooklyn Nets escaped with a 112-109 win on Friday night. The W snapped their five game losing streak.

Where to follow the game​

YES Network on TV. WFAN on radio. Gotham Sports on streaming. Amazingly, this game will tip off after 7 PM. More on that in a bit.

Injuries​

No Ziaire Williams, Michael Porter Jr, Drake Powell, or Haywood Highsmith.

Zach Collins and Noa Essengue are out. Patrick Williams is questionable. Josh Giddey has been upgraded to doubtful as he recovers from a left hamstring strain.

The game​

Brooklyn won games one and two. They’ll wrap up the season series in February.

Noah Clowney continues to impress. The kid collected a double-double as his 23 points and 11 rebounds paced the Nets frontcourt. The more he plays well, the more he becomes an integral part of the Nets future when they return to playoff contention. Keep at it and the results will be there.

The Bulls found their three point shooting at the right time on Friday night. They went 6-12 from deep as they made their furious comeback. They’re tenth in threes attempted and 14th in efficiency, which is pretty respectable. For the Nets, they’ve got to make sure they make things tough on the Bulls and limit any quality looks they can generate.

Nolan Traore got the bulk of the point guard minutes over Egor Dëmin, and it shows the importance of having two decent young guards on the roster. When one doesn’t have it, you can turn to the other one and see if he can bring home. Either way, it serves as a valuable learning lesson for both of them and should help as they continue their careers.

Without Porter Jr in the lineup, look for Cam Thomas to be one of the team leaders in field goal attempts. If all else fails, Thomas can get shots up at the rim. And with him being unlikely to play on Monday due to the back-to-back, he’ll have even more incentive to hunt for his shot tonight.

Player to watch: Nikola Vucevic​

When Vucevic has it going, he’s hard to slow down. Vuc has a great touch, is solid in the post, and can stretch the floor. There’s a reason why he’s always given the Nets hell over the years and Chicago will make sure he gets the ball as much as possible this evening.

Nic Claxton will keep on keeping on. Clax grabbed a season high 14 rebounds on Friday as he helped the Nets to a +6 advantage on the boards against the Bulls. Securing possessions matters a ton in close games and if we have another one that goes down to the wire, Claxton’s work on the glass will go a long way in pushing the Nets to a win.

From the Vault​

I feel very safe saying that just about everybody at the United Center will have their attention on the LA Rams vs. Chicago Bears at Solider Field this evening. It’s the first time the Bears have been in the divisional round in 15 years. With that in mind, let’s take a trip back in time.

More reading: Blog a Bull, The Bigs, SB Nation NBA, New York Post, New York Daily News, Clutch Points, Nets Wire, Steve’s Newsletter, City of Nets

• Brooklyn Nets Game Notes – Brooklyn Nets
• Chicago Bulls Game Notes – Chicago Bulls
• Brooklyn visits Chicago on 4-game road slide – AP

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-game-previews/104641/nets-vs-bulls-preview-a-busy-sunday-in-chicago

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Two-Ways notch 60 points in Long Island win

The Long Island Nets returned to the court on Sunday evening for a showdown with the Iowa Wolves on the road. While Grant Nelson was inactive for this game due to injury management, the three Brooklyn Nets two-way players — Tyson Etienne, Chaney Johnson, & EJ Liddell — were out in full force as they combined for 60 points. In the end, Long Island walked away with the victory, defeating Iowa, 124-115. In addition, Ben Saraf, assigned to Long Island by Brooklyn, added 15.

Etienne led the team in scoring, tallying 27 points. It looked like he was going to be in for an even bigger scoring performance as he reached double-digits midway through the first quarter. However, another 40-point performance was not in the cards for Etienne who slowed down throughout the game. However, he shot the ball very well, connecting on seven of his 13 shots, including going 3-for-7 from beyond the arc. Etienne was perfect from the foul line, draining all four of his tries.

There was a downside. Etienne not only led the team, but the entire game in turnovers, turning the ball over five times. He was

Another player who is trying to find their way up to the big club is Chaney Johnson. The 6’7” way player on hand in this one was second on the team in scoring with 21 points. Johnson had a very impressive shooting performance, connecting on nine of his 13 shots, including 1-of-2 from 3-point land.

Scoring in the double-digits night in and night out has become a norm for the 23-year-old latest two-way signee. Johnson also had four rebounds, one assist, and a block. This was a very solid performance.

The third Brooklyn two-way player on hand for this one was 6’7” wing E.J. Liddell. Liddell, who has had several outstanding games, had a rather quiet game in this one. He finished with 12 points, connecting on five of his seven attempts from the field. He also went two-for-three from deep, so his shooting was pretty on key in this game. Not much to complain about, however, he didn’t find nearly as many looks as he has in previous games.

This also marked Liddell’s second game on the court since returning from a freak injury that had caused him to miss about a week of games. Uncharacteristically, Liddell didn’t pick up a single block in this one. However, Liddell finished with five rebounds, two assists, and even had a steal to his credit.

Despite getting off to a very rocky start in this game, Saraf turned it around and actually put up some respectable numbers. Saraf started the game connecting on one of his seven shots. However, he finished the game connecting on five of his 12 shots in total, including going 1-of-3 from deep. Overall, Saraf finished this one with a total of 15 points, which was much better than what we anticipated based on how he started Sunday’s game.

However, to Saraf’s credit, when he wasn’t hitting his shots, he began passing the ball more, which was very smart of him. He finished the game with eight assists, as well as six rebounds, slightly flirting with a triple-double. Another positive sign of improvement was that Saraf only turned the ball over twice, a big drop from his big issue this season. Earlier this season he registered eight turnovers in a game.

Grant Nelson, the 7’0” big man who recently returned for a seven-week layoff due to knew woes, was rested.

Trevon Scott, Long Island’s 6’8” big picked up 17 points in this one and had a five steals. Nate Williams rounded out the starters, tallying 15 points and flirting with a double-double, picking up seven rebounds. Malachi Smith continued his hot play off the bench, as he tallied 15 points. Smith made his presence felt in more ways than one as he also had five rebounds and five assists.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (6-5) return to the court on Monday afternoon for a rematch with the Iowa Wolves. The game is an afternoon game as it tips off at 2:00 p.m. EST. It can be watched on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets’ respective websites.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 124, Iowa Wolves 115 – G League
• Game Highlights: Long Island 124, Iowa Wolves 115 (Video) – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislandnets/104694/brooklyn-two-ways-notch-60-points-in-long-island-win

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE Discussion: Phoenix Suns at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET

The Brooklyn Nets couldn’t get it done against the Bulls in the home-and-home. They’re back in Brooklyn on Monday where they’ll welcome former Nets assistant Jordan Ott and his new-look Suns. It’s Ott’s first season as head coach after he spent six years with the Nets, spanning from Kenny Atkinson to Jacque Vaughn.

Onto the game… these Suns are no laughingstock.

Phoenix Suns (25-17) at Brooklyn Nets (12-28)​

Location: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY
Tip-Off: 7:30 PM ET
TV: YES Network | Gotham Sports App
Radio: WFAN 101.9 FM

Injury Report​

Sharpe: OUT – Illness/Throat Contusion
Dëmin: OUT – Left Plantar Fascia Injury Management
Thomas: OUT – Left Hamstring Injury Management
Highsmith: OUT – Right Knee Surgery, Injury Recovery
Etienne: OUT – G League Two Way
Johnson: OUT – G League Two Way
Liddell: OUT – G League Two Way
Saraf: OUT – G League Assignment

Discussion​

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-disc...ssion-phoenix-suns-at-brooklyn-nets-730-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets get burnt by Phoenix Suns, lose 126-117

The Brooklyn Nets hosted the Phoenix Suns at the Barclays Center Monday evening. It was the first time in a while where the two teams meeting didn’t feel like running into an ex out in public.

No Kevin Durant. No Cam Johnson. No Mikal Bridges. Not even any of Phoenix’s future first rounders were in the backdrop tonight — just a whole lot of buckets on a day to celebrate the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Brooklyn and Phoenix collectively began tonight shooting 6-of-10 from deep. Two were put in Drake Powell, who returned to the starting lineup with Egor Dëmin held out for injury management…

Drake Powell drains back-to-back threes to start tonight's game. pic.twitter.com/eGRuiURHRd

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 20, 2026

Although Powell’s name fell into the point guard slot on the pregame lineup card, ball-handling was done by a committee for Brooklyn. Terance Mann got some reps, even dishing seven assists in the first half, as did Michael Porter Jr. and Nic Claxton. (Cam Thomas was also out for injury management.)

Despite the group effort, the Brooklyn’s offense was overshadowed in the first, and for most of the game. While the Nets came out hot, the Suns were white dwarfs, posting 71/67 splits in the first quarter. Dillon Brooks added seven points while shooting 4-of-5 from the field. Phoenix also controlled the game’s pace, grabbing eight points on the break.

The Nets (naturally) caught up a bit when Nolan Traoré checked in at the 4:19 point of the period. He, Jalen Wilson, Danny Wolf, Tyrese Martin, and Ziaire Williams, who returned after missing a week of ball with an illness, cut the deficit to nine after it had ballooned to 15 at one point, yet Phoenix maintained a 40-26 lead after one…

Nolan Traoré just put Grayson Allen in the spin cycle pic.twitter.com/28YKzZkwOM

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

“I’m just grateful just to be out here,” Williams said of his return. “Woke up one morning feeling fine, and then I ended up sick, and missing games, and it was just a reminder of just how anything can be taken away from you by any time…I missed playing with these guys.”

It was the first time the Nets gave up 40 points in a quarter since November 9th. In the second, Michael Porter Jr. looked to get it all back.

After going scoreless in the opening frame, MPJ dropped 13 points while shooting 5-6 from the field. Traoré also continued his run of impressive play since coming up from Long Island. The sequel to his career night in Chicago on Friday started with 10 first half points while shooting a perfect 3-3 from the field. He didn’t get any more in the second half…but still finished the game as a +4.

Williams also hit two threes in the period’s final two four minutes. Mann also put one in for submission seconds before the deadline…

Terance Mann makes it a four point game at the half buzzer pic.twitter.com/6Vk4mZ0Lrz

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

But again, every positive at the offensive end doubled as a negative at the other. Rather than switching, Brooklyn played more of in a drop this evening. Devin Booker and company went to work with the extra space provided. The Suns added 32 more points in the second, maintaining 63/46/91 splits as a team at half, where theu led the Nets by a 72-68 tally.

The Nets also probably threw one too many high doubles at Booker, who had the poise and precision all night to pass out of them and find open shooters.

“We were kind of giving them that shot, trying to live with that rather than Booker ISO,” Mann said. “So, just the ability to make shots down the stretch. They’re a veteran team.”

Even as the shots continued to fall for Phoenix, the Nets did well to keep the deficit from fully reinflating in the third. But while the Phoenix lead didn’t boil, the frustrations for Brooklyn did. Booker and Dillon Brooks each found success baiting the Nets and befooling officials early in the period. The Suns drew nine free throw attempts in the quarter’s first eight minutes after getting 11 in the entire first half.

Fernández said the game was “called like a rugby match,” post game. Williams also noted he felt there were one or two wrongful whistles, but he also tipped his cap to his old teammate.

“I love Dillon to death, man,” he said. “That’s my guy. That’s my big brother. He taught me so much. It’s really dope to see him really flourish this year. I feel like he’s an all star, in my opinion…He’s a great teammate. I hate playing against them but love him on your team. His competitiveness is second to none and I definitely learned a lot of tips and tricks from him.”

The Nets made it a 112-105 game with 7:04 to go after Tyrese Martin connected on a transition three. Porter Jr. followed that up with a quick five, getting three with glam and two with grit…

Michael Porter Jr. gets a flashy one, then a gritty one next time down the floor. pic.twitter.com/A9A72fcuYd

— Collin Helwig (@collinhelwig) January 20, 2026

But the mounting pressure from Brooklyn only caused Phoenix’s offensive crystallize and its ball movement to shine. As the Nets repeatedly looked to trap Booker, the Suns the rock with pace and precession, pulling the Brooklyn defense as if it were pizza dough before baking it with a bucket.

“They’re a good ball club, man,” Williams said. “They play really well together, ball was moving.”

The Nets had possesson down nine with a little over a minute to go, but could only draw up a Powell step back three out of the timeout. It clanked off the side rim. Down too much and too late to make playing the foul game acceptable, Brooklyn didn’t down quietly, but a bit quieter than usual.

Final: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117

Milestone Watch​

• Terance Mann’s seven assists in the first half against the Suns are tied for his most in a game this season (fourth time) and tied the most in a half in his career (2/8/22, LAC at MEM).
• This was Nolan Traoré’s second career half with 10+ points, joining his 14 points in the second half last night against Chicago.

Halfway There​

It’s a common misconception that the All-Star break marks the halfway point in the NBA regular season. That’s usually when we’re about two-thirds of the way there. Believe it or not, tonight was Brooklyn’s 41st game, meaning they’re now at that halfway point. Here was Ziaire Williams’ answer on what the Nets have learned and want to take into second half:

“Yeah, for sure, man, just a whole list of things. Off the top of my mind, we just got to start better. We start off 0-7 and we figured out, but even with tonight, we figured it out, and came up just short. But it’s all a growing process, growing pains, and the best part is, we have a full locker room of guys who want to win and wan’t to compete at the highest level. I feel like that’s the hardest part, is finding a group that loves each other and enjoys going to war with each other every night, and we have that, and that’s the culture that Jordi and the rest of the staff are building. So, we’ll figure it out, and there’s a lot of better days ahead, just got to stay in the process.”

No change in the Tankathon rankings. Nets still is sixth, still two games out of fourth.

Injury Report​

The only Net to miss tonight’s game not for injury management or a G-League assignment was Day’Ron Sharpe. The Nets tagged him with an illness/throat contusion injury designation pregame. We’ll monitor the situation and update as we learn more.

Next Up​

Brooklyn hasn’t beaten their cross town rival since January of 2023, and even with the Nets sporting the league’s fifth-worst record, it feels like they’ll have a solid chance to break that streak on Wednesday night. The Knicks are in one of their worst losing spells in the Leon Rose era right now, having dropped eight of their last 10 games. The quest for redemption tips off at 7:30 p.m. ET at Madison Square Garden.

• Boxscore: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Phoenix Suns 126, Brooklyn Nets 117 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Ziaire Williams PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Terance Mann PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Brooks and Booker power Suns to a 126-117 win over the struggling Nets – Adry Torres – AP
• Suns bomb in 20 3-pointers, stave off Nets – Reuters
• Nets’ putrid defense far too much to overcome in loss to Suns – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• There’s no denying Cam Thomas’s Nets destiny at this point ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets torched from deep again in 126-117 loss to Suns – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets player grades: Michael Porter Jr. nets 23 in 126-117 loss to Suns – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...s-vs-suns-126-114-michael-porter-devin-booker

 

[Zedster]

Tough loss last night but honestly the second half of the season feels like it's all about development at this point. Clowney's extension situation is interesting - $12.5M/year feels about right given where he's at, though I wonder if the Nets try to lock him up before other teams can make offers. The defensive concerns are real but he's only 21.

The Suns game was frustrating to watch. Dropping 40 in the first quarter and giving up 20 threes is rough. The drop coverage against Booker just wasn't working - he's too good at finding the open shooter when you double him like that.

Silver lining though: Traoré continues to look promising. That spin move on Grayson Allen was nice. And MPJ showed up in the second quarter when they needed him. Williams being back is good too after that illness.

The Long Island notes are encouraging. Etienne putting up 27, Chaney Johnson with 21 on efficient shooting, and Saraf settling down with only 2 turnovers after that rough start. Those two-way guys are getting real reps which should help depth down the stretch.

Wednesday against the Knicks should be interesting. They've been struggling lately and the Nets haven't beaten them in three years. Would be a nice one to steal at the Garden.

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

The Long Forecast: Toppin, Philon rise as Brown Jr. spotlights

Welcome to another week of The Long Forecast on NetsDaily.

Another week of college basketball is in the books, which means a deeper look at this year’s incoming NBA draft class.

Where do the Nets’ picks sit?​

Since last week’s column, the Nets went 1-3 and hold the league’s fifth-worst record at 12-29, a game out of fourth in the Tankathon rankings.

As for Brooklyn’s second-round selections, they are currently slotted at No. 35 (their own), no. 41 overall (via LA Clippers) and no. 44 (via Atlanta). Why the change from two to three seconds? It’s complicated and ultimately will depend on final standings come April. H/T to Jeremy Woo of ESPN.

Here are the latest mock drafts from Tankathon and Bleacher Report. Also, ESPN

Risers​

JT Toppin, Texas Tech

Throughout 17 games for the Red Raiders this season, Toppin has averaged 21.6 points per game in 34.2 minutes, shooting 56.3% from the field and knocking down just 28.6% of his 3-point attempts, while corralling a whopping 11.2 rebounds per game.

JT TOPPIN HUGE BLOCK IN THE CLUTCH ON TOP NBA PROSPECT AJ DYBANTSA

Toppin had 27 PTS and 12 REB in the win over No. 11 BYU pic.twitter.com/kVXWHh056V

— ESPN (@espn) January 18, 2026

Against BYU on Saturday, he poured in 27 points, 12 rebounds, and two steals while shooting 61.1% from the field and knocking down three of his four attempts from beyond the arc.

JT Toppin comes up with a massive clutch block on top NBA prospect AJ Dybantsa

Toppin finished with 27 points and 12 rebounds in the win over No. 11 BYU
pic.twitter.com/b1aHAw9dAo

— OutOfSightSports (@OOSSports) January 18, 2026

Toppin is highly athletic and has legitimate defensive upside at the next level.

Labaron Philon, Alabama

In 17 games for the Crimson Tide this season, Philon is averaging 22 points per game and 4.9 assists throughout 28.8 minutes while shooting 53.4% from the field and knocking down 38% of his 3-point attempts.

Have just loved the way that Labaron Philon is getting his buckets this season.

Such a crafty scorer out of the PnR and getting downhill with so many counters. Love his ability to change speed and directions with ease. He's such a fluid mover going all directions and angles.… pic.twitter.com/NtJmRGw919

— Lucas Skinner (@redcooteay) January 14, 2026

While his production is certainly promising, ahead of the NBA’s Scouting Combine, he must put on some weight, as he currently stands at 6’4” and just 177 pounds.

Labaron Philon will be a lottery pick this year, and deservedly so; the stutter steps he uses to freeze a defender and burst into space is high level on ball creation; but an area I’d love to see him focus more in, is being a threat without the ball too.

pic.twitter.com/Cc8y7u9WUT

— Point Made: Scouting & Film Room (@PointMadeLiam) January 14, 2026

Philon possesses a high basketball IQ, and if he continues to play at this rate, he will be a lottery selection in June.

Fallers​

Tahaad Pettiford, Auburn

While Pettiford has flashed scoring upside, his production has been uneven.

Through 18 games, he is shooting just 36.6% from the field and 27.4% from 3-point range, numbers that highlight that inconsistency.

For an explosive, shifty guard, the path forward is clear: cleaner shot selection and steadier shooting will determine his draft stock.

Spotlight of the week​

Mikel Brown Jr., Louisville

During his first 10 games, Brown established himself as one of the ACC’s most dynamic freshmen.

Throughout 27.2 minutes, he is averaging 16.6 points per game alongside 5.1 assists while shooting 38.1% from the field and 26.8% from beyond the arc.

Shooting is the backbone of Brown’s game. He has clean mechanics and proven range both off the catch and off the dribble, and he shows the ability to run an offense and make sound reads.

That combination of shooting and versatility makes it easy to see why scouts remain intrigued.

If his efficiency takes a step forward as he settles back in, he has a real path to putting himself firmly in the conversation as a top selection.

Sleepers​

Jaden Bradley, Arizona

Across 18 games this season, Bradley has averaged 14.1 points per game along with 4.6 assists while converting 46.7% of 3-point attempts.

Against UCF on Saturday, Bradley compiled 23 points, six rebounds, five assists, and two steals while shooting 54.5% from the field.

Jaden Bradley continues to show he's one of the best guards in the country:

21 PTS | 6-13 FG | 1-2 3PT| 3 REB | 2 STL pic.twitter.com/e9VsNImHFF

— B/R Hoops (@brhoops) November 20, 2025

He offers solid length and is known for attacking the rim with authority. The Wildcat has really developed his shot on the outside, which makes him a threat from beyond the arc.

Jaden Bradley is an NBA Basketball player and I will die on this hill pic.twitter.com/1JhwkJ2QRs

— Damon (@DamonDawg) January 8, 2026

All of it adds up to a rapidly emerging, three-level scorer whose expanding offensive package is making him increasingly difficult to scheme against.

This week’s watch guide​

Here is a list of games that fans should tune into this week.

• Tue, Jan 20 — 7:00 PM ET: UCF @ Iowa State
• Wed, Jan 21 — 7:00 PM ET: Notre Dame @ UNC
• Sat, Jan 24 — 3:00 PM ET: Illinois @ Purdue
• Sat, Jan 24 — 5:30 PM ET: Utah @ BYU
• Sat, Jan 24 — 8:30 PM ET: Tennessee @ Alabama
• Mon, Jan 26 — 7:00 PM ET: Louisville @ Duke
• Mon, Jan 26 — 9:00 PM: Arizona @ BYU

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-draf...ast-toppin-philon-rise-as-brown-jr-spotlights

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

In nail-biting win, Ben Saraf saves day for Long Island

Lightning struck twice this weekend for the Long Island Nets as they eeked out two back-to-back wins over the Iowa Wolves, one easy on Sunday, the other a nail-biter Monday night, 108-106. Six players wound up in double figures including two of the Nets three two-ways and one of the Flatbush Five.

Long Island entered the fourth up by 14 points. At one point, with roughly nine minutes remaining in the final quarter, they led by twenty. However, that lead quickly diminished as Long Island suffered a monumental collapse. In the end, it was rookie Ben Saraf who saved the day with a critical steal and drive in the last minute to seal the win. Saraf finished with 17.

Ben coming up clutch to put the game away pic.twitter.com/ib2Gf8O0nB

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) January 19, 2026

The win gives Long Island a 7-5 record, good for fifth in the G League’s Eastern Conference.

Early on, it was E.J. Liddell once again looked great in this one. Liddell finished this one with 18 points, connecting on 7-of-8 shots, including going 2-of-3. Liddell, the 6’7” Ohio State product who turned 25 last month, led the team in scoring while grabbing seven rebounds, one assist, and two steals.

However, perhaps the strongest part of Liddell’s game could be found further along in the boxscore. Liddell also led the team and the game in blocks in this one, tallying four. He didn’t have a single block Sunday, which is very uncharacteristic for Liddell, one of the G League leaders in the category. Liddell is a very solid offensive player, but where he thrives the most is on defense, and more specifically, knowing how to execute a block perfectly.

“It’s a God-given gift,” Liddell told ND about his blocking ability and how he worked at it to get it where he is today. “The timing, the patience, I think it’s just me blocking out negativity. That’s how I look at it when I’m blocking shots. Blocking out bad vibes. That’s just a gift I’ve always had.” At times, Liddell looks like he has more potential than a couple of the rookies.

Tyson Etienne, also on a two-way deal, was coming off a 25-point performance on Sunday. In this one, he had a minor step back in points, but he put together an all-around better game than he had on Sunday. Etienne connected on six of his 13 shots, including hitting 4-of-11 from beyond the arc. Etienne finished this game with 16 points.

However, where Etienne really excelled was as a playmaker in this one. The 26-year-old picked up a 10 assists, a career high, giving him a double-double. He also had three steals to his credit.

Now let’s get to the Brooklyn rookie, Ben Saraf. Saraf has been very tough to read since being sent down by the Nets. One game he throws up 40 points, another game he only has eight points. He’s also been troubled by ankle woes. In this one, it looked like it was going to be another nightmare game for the rookie. He started by connecting on one of his six shots, very similar to his start in Sunday’s game.

But in typical Saraf-fashion, it’s not about how you start, it’s about how you finish. Saraf finished this game connecting on six of his 14 shot attempts, which looks an awful lot better than 1-of-6. He also connected on three-of-six from beyond the arc. Saraf also tallied five rebounds, five assists, and one block.

However, where Saraf shone the most was in the ballhawk department. He tallied four steals in this one. While many people have an opinion on Saraf, one thing that they have to give him credit for is his ability to read passes. Even if he doesn’t always finish the game with “x” amount of steals, he reads passes very well and knows how to disrupt them. He’s always on the ball, despite what the stat sheet says. Moreover, as his two big plays at the end prove, he has a clutch gene.

Grant Nelson returned in this one after missing Sunday’s game due to injury management. The 7-foot 23-year-old tallied 10 points, four rebounds, and one assist, all in 16 minutes. He played well enough for the Iowa commentator to remark how he was “shocked” that Nelson was not one of the players to receive a two-way contract by Brooklyn. He added that he’s also “shocked” that Nelson was available for the taking by any team that wants him. However, Nelson told ND last week how happy he is with organization crediting Brooklyn and Long Island performance staffs with helping to mitigate a knee issue that’s bothered him since he was 18.

Indeed, he’s looked very good despite minutes restricts as we noted this morning…

Slowly but surely. In three starts since returning from seven-week knee rehab, Nelson has scored 40 points in 49 minutes. That’s 29.4 per 36 minutes. He’s shooting 16-of-25 (61.5%) overall and grabbing 11.8 rebounds per 36. Nelson is 23. Nets currently don’t hold his NBA rights. https://t.co/LnWTsnRh0D

— NetsDaily (@NetsDaily) January 20, 2026

This leads to yet another question. Who should be given a two-way deal more? Nelson, or Chaney Johnson? Johnson is the latest Brooklyn two-way signee. In this one, you wouldn’t know it, though. Johnson came off the bench in this one, picking up eight points, three rebounds, two assists, two steals and one block, fulfilling the D part of his 3-and-D potential. For Johnson, who went undrafted out of Auburn, it was his first game of less than 10 points since being called up from Cleveland.

Of course, two-way deals are non-guaranteed and the Nets have a recent history of moving players, from either the G League to a standard NBA contract or pulling their two-way status while permitting the play to continue playing on a lesser G League deal.

Brooklyn may someone special on their hands with Nelson, at least at the G League level. He’s already making highlight reels…

First Half Highlights from Iowa #StrongIsland pic.twitter.com/a807d4x9cl

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) January 19, 2026

Trevon Scott picked up 15 points as he connected on five of his 10 shots from the field for 50%. Nate Williams had a quiet game by his standards, tallying 11 points, hitting on just four of his nine shots for less than 50%.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (7-5) look to continue their winning ways on Wednesday, January 21st, as they travel to South Dakota to face off with the Sioux Falls Skyforce. The game tips off at 7:30 p.m. EST and can be watched on the NBA G League and Long Island Nets respective websites. It will also be available on the FanDuel Sports Network.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 108, Iowa Wolves 106 – G League
• Game Highlights: Long Island Nets 108, Iowa Wolves 106 (Video) – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...iting-win-ben-saraf-saves-day-for-long-island

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE Discussion: Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks, 7:30 PM ET

The Knicks are sliding and they need a win in the worst way. Enter: the Brooklyn Nets.

Brooklyn can stay the course with the tank and help both sides get what they want. A win-win. Or they can kick the enemy while they’re down; maybe remind them with every kick that the Nets control their first-round picks in 2027, 2029, and 2031, plus a 2028 first-round pick swap.

For now, we stay humble. Knicks have won nine straight against the Nets entering Wednesday.

KEY INFO​

Brooklyn Nets (11–27) at New York Knicks (23–17)​

When: 7:30 PM ET
Where: Madison Square Garden, New York, NY
TV: YES Network / MSG
Radio: WFAN Sports

INJURY REPORT​

Highsmith: OUT – Right Knee Surgery, Injury Recovery
Etienne: OUT – G League Two Way
Johnson: OUT – G League Two Way
Liddell: OUT – G League Two Way
Saraf: OUT – G League Assignment

Discussion​

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-disc...on-brooklyn-nets-at-new-york-knicks-730-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Long Island loses late despite big games from EJ Liddell, Grant Nelson

The Long Island Nets returned to the court on Wednesday night, as they traveled to South Dakota to take on the Sioux Falls Skyforce. While it looked like it might be a disaster for Long Island, they were able to cut down a 25-point deficit to single digits on the backs of E.J. Liddell and Grant Nelson, both of whom had big games. However, they couldn’t pull off the upset and fell to the Skyforce, 119-110.

All three of the Brooklyn Nets’ two-way players were on hand in this one – EJ Liddell, Tyson Etienne, and Chaney Johnson as was Ben Saraf, still on assignment from Brooklyn. Liddell played his heart out, early on looking like the only player on the court for Long Island. Liddell continues to be one of the best shooters on the team, connecting on 8-of-14 overall and 4-of-6 from deep.

The 6’7” 25-year-old has shown that, whether in Brooklyn or on Long Island, he takes smart shots. He doesn’t just throw anything up and pray that it falls. That was on full display Wednesday. Another strong suit of Liddell’s game has been rebounding, he flirted with a double-double, tallying nine rebounds. He looks to have a very bright future.

Speaking of a player with a bright future, Grant Nelson also played well once again. On a bit of a minutes restriction since coming back from injury, Nelson is showing up and showing out each time he’s been on the court. Nelson, who played for 18 minutes (the lowest of all the starters), wound up with 14 points and 18 rebounds.

GRANT SLAM pic.twitter.com/eLsv9RMcuA

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) January 22, 2026

In his 18 minutes on the court, Nelson, a North Dakota native, also flirted with a double-double, grabbing eight boards and blocking two shots. In his four starts, playing no more than 18 minutes in any of them, Nelson is putting up 29.9 points and 12.5 rebounds per 36 minutes. He’s also shooting 71.4% overall, although he has yet to connect from deep.

Nelson will likely give the Brooklyn organization a choice to make about their two-way deals or maybe even ther standard deals. The three two-way deals are filled with Liddell, Tyson Etienne and Chaney Johnson. Do you jeopardize losing Nelson after the season, or perhaps even sooner, to a team that wants to offer him a two-way spot to develop there? Of course, at this time of year, just before the trade deadline, rosters get fluid. An unbalanced trade by Brooklyn could open up a roster shot and a two-way could be given a standard if non-guaranteed deal or alternately, a two-way could be moved around like chess pieces. Two-way players can be dumped as a two-way but asked to stick around and continue to play with Long Island but on a deal that plays considerably less than the two-way.

Johnson, who is the latest two-way signee, entered from the bench and tallied 14 points and 15 rebounds. This was an excellent showing by the two-way player, He also had three assists and a block. Johnson is the youngest player on the roster, three months younger than Nelson.

Chaney Johnson scored 14 points and grabbed a career-high 15 rebounds for the double-double

Send Chaney to the @nbagleague Next Up Game: https://t.co/bvPrWh5nuq pic.twitter.com/5kCJ9iuI8G

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) January 22, 2026

Etienne was second on the team in scoring with 15 points. Etienne, who’s usually a pretty good shot, had a bit of an average day by his standards. He hit six of his 13 tries, connecting on just three of his 10 shots from deep. Etienne also continued in his role as playmaker , tallying eight assists. He also had a rebound and a steal to his credit.

Now let’s get to the bad news. Saraf had a tough game. The 19-year-old connected on just two of his 12 shots, going one-for-five from deep. He also just got tormented on defense multiple times by the Skyforce’s Jahmir Young. Young finished the game with 30 points, oftentimes torching the Brooklyn rookie.

Everyone has bad games; it’s all a part of the development process. Nonetheless, this is a game he’d like to pack away and never look at again, and who could blame him? A couple of things Saraf did well: he finished with six assists while only turning the ball over once. So, that’s a pretty positive sign.

Nate Williams rounded out the Long Island starters. He finished with 12 points. By Williams standards, this was a bit of an average performance. Malachi Smith came off the bench and tallied 13 points.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (7-6) return to their home court on Friday, January 23rd, as they face off with old friend AJ Lawson and the Toronto Raptors 905. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. ET and can be watched on the NBA G League website, as well as the Gotham Sports app.

• Boxscore: Sioux Falls Skyforce 109, Long Island Nets 101 – G League
• Game Highlights: Sioux Falls Skyforce 109, Long Island Nets 101 (Video) – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...espite-big-games-from-ej-liddell-grant-nelson

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets embarrassed by New York Knicks, lose 120-66

Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

On Wednesday night, the Brooklyn Nets had a game to win. It was the game to unite both sides of the aisle, whether you believe rooting for your favorite team to lose is a morally corrosive practice that leaves stains on the heart of your fandom or if you believe more in the marriage of fandom and pragmatism.

Not only did they have the Knicks in MSG, but they had a Knicks team with water creeping into their lungs: 7-11 since winning the NBA Cup and entering Wednesday on a 2-9 stretch. If there’s not full-blown panic over in Manhattanites, it’s just around the corner, with beat writers reporting that the team hasn’t fully bought into their roles and advocating for a major shake-up at the trade deadline.

The Nets don’t own the Knicks first-round pick this year — they do in odd-numbered years — but that hardly mattered on Wednesday. Brooklyn has shorted New York’s long-term future, but in the short-term, they had a chance to plunge the Knicks further into disarray on Wednesday. Whether you hate the blue-and-orange or don’t pay them any mind, you can’t deny the hilarity of a 12-29 team handing them their 10th loss in 12 games, right in the middle of a championship-or-bust season.

Anyway, that’s not what happened. The Knicks secured their largest margin of victory in franchise history. Seriously. Here’s a brief list of stuff that happened:

• Landry Shamet shot 6-of-6 from deep
• The Nets shot 10-of-27 in the paint
• Mike Brown challenged a call up by 48
• Mike Brown lost that challenge
• The Nets (with 11 points to spare) scored the fewest points by an NBA team in a game this season
• Thanks to a 5-0 run to close the game, the Nets avoided the worst margin of defeat in franchise history
• Why are you still reading this?

Let’s allot some brief space for Ziaire Williams, the only Net who, by any measure, played well. He (with some help from Day’Ron Sharpe) desperately tried to raise Brooklyn’s energy level in the first half, deflecting pass after pass and applying ball pressure to Jalen Brunson, who was otherwise seeing cones. Williams scored 11 points on 5-of-10 shooting with just a rebound and a steal, but he was the only one who matched New York’s verve.

Every other aspect of these 48 minutes was depressing. Michael Porter Jr. continued his cool-streak with a 4-of-14 performance, Egor Dëmin hit two quick threes before air-balling a floater by a foot, scoring zero points the rest of the way. Nolan Traore had a 0/1/3 line with three turnovers and Danny Wolf got owned by Deuce McBride at the rim. Terance Mann, Jalen Wilson, and Tyrese Martin — all of whom were initially out of the rotation — entered early in the fourth quarter, only for the Nets to go scoreless until the 5:38 mark.

“I felt like the little stuff that we said we wanted to do, we didn’t do,” said Noah Clowney postgame. “Like, we know they’re gonna switch, Josh Hart and OG are gonna switch, things like that. We need to get Brunson in the action because he’s not gonna switch, so there’s our advantage and play off of that. Stuff like that, offensively, we didn’t do it and defensively it was disastrous. We didn’t get back for the first part, they lit our ass up from three, had everything they wanted.

Jordi Fernández fell on the sword postgame: “This was a tough one, but show up the next day and have positive energy and work and get better and go out there and compete. I have to help them better … players are not responsible for it, so I got to make sure that they understand the values that we have and how we want to play, and we’ll work together.”

Drake Powell disagreed, predictably: “Yeah, 100% don’t agree. I think, you know, we’re the ones that are out there playing, making decisions, and I think it’s ultimately on us as a team.”

Maybe rooting for losses and encouraging a tank isn’t about pragmatism. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism. The Brooklyn Nets — scratch that — Nets fans had a rare opportunity on Wednesday to get a win without worrying about a ping-pong ball, to be a true thorn in the Knicks’ side. With that in mind, the second-worst loss in franchise history tastes even more bitter.

Oh well. At least they’re tanking. One year and five days ago, the Brooklyn Nets lost by a franchise-record 59 points to the Los Angeles Clippers, and it hardly mattered. They would soon return home, win six out of seven games, and later make five first-round draft picks who will either become good NBA players or not, regardless of Wednesday’s humiliation ritual.

“This doesn’t stop the plan that we have. It’s just, obviously, a tough experience to go through.” — Jordi Fernández.

Final Score: Brooklyn Nets 120, New York Knicks 66

Milestone Watch​

• The 54-point margin of defeat is the second-largest in Nets history, slightly more respectable than the aforementioned 59-point drubbing at the hands of the Clippers last season.
• In each of the last three seasons, Brooklyn has lost a game by 50+ points, starting with the rout that got Jacque Vaughn canned. The Portland Trail Blazers, from 2021-2024, are the only other franchise to accomplish this feat.

Sadly, the loss as bad as it was didn’t change things in the Tankathon rankings. The Nets are still in fifth, three games behind (ahead?) of the Kings in the loss column. Because the Jazz won, Brooklyn put a little distance between themselves and Utah who remains in sixth.

MPJ injury update​

Gotta love how candid Michael Porter Jr. is with the media. Brooklyn’s leading scorer offered up — unprompted — that he’s been dealing with an MCL sprain since getting tangled up with Wendell Carter Jr. in Brooklyn’s loss to the Orlando Magic. Now, he’s only missed two games since then, and they were both on the front-end of a back-to-back, so he and Jordi Fernández don’t believe it’s anything to worry about.

“He had some discomfort, but he kept playing. He’s played all the way through,” Fernandez said. “We value our players’ health, and if it were something that didn’t allow him to play, we would do whatever it takes to figure that out. But he’s played, so I don’t think I have anything else to say from that.”

Brooklyn has a strong incentive to tank this season, not to mention the trade rumors swirling around Porter Jr. If it was a serious injury, you’d have to believe he wouldn’t be playing through it, but perhaps it’s contributing in some small way to his relative struggles of late. Since the Orlando loss, he’s shooting 42% from the floor and 33% from deep.

Next Up​

The schedule doesn’t get any easier, as the 27-16 Boston Celtics, sitting in second place in the Eastern Conference, come to town. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET on Friday evening.

• Boxscore: Brooklyn Nets 120, New York Knicks 66 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Brooklyn Nets 120, New York Knicks 66 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Drake Powell PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Noah Clowney PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Knicks get back on track with biggest win in their history, beating Brooklyn by 54 points – AP
• Knicks snap losing streak with historic beatdown of Nets – Reuters
• Knicks destroy Nets in historic laugher to snap four-game losing skid – Jared Schwartz – New York Post
• Michael Porter Jr.’s knee issue isn’t only reason for his Nets production dip as trade deadline looms ($) – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Giannis Antetokounmpo calls out ‘selfish’ Bucks teammates with trade talk swirling – Eric Richter – New York Post
• Knicks blitz Nets early, snap four-game skid in historic fashion at Madison Square Garden ($) -C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets’ Michael Porter Jr. playing through minor MCL sprain ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Ziaire Williams’ ‘superpower’ is showing up again for the Nets ($) – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Knicks buy themselves more time in historic win over Nets ($) – Kristian Winfield – New York Daily News
• Josh Hart denies Knicks players-only meeting: ‘Y’all dragging it.’ ($) – Kristian Winfield – New York Daily News
• Nets player grades following Wednesday’s 120-66 loss at the Knicks – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY
• Nets Fernandez Could Be Facing Futility Battle – Steve Lichtenstein – Steve’s Newsletter

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...ts-embarrassed-by-new-york-knicks-lose-120-66

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

RUMOR ROUND-UP: ‘All indications’ MPJ is sticking around

Pretty much same ol’, same ol’. In a series of tweets and podcasts Thursday, pundits suggested that with two weeks to go before the February 5 (3:00 p.m. ET) trade deadline, the Brooklyn Nets are unlikely to make a big deal involving either Michael Porter Jr. or Nic Claxton. As for Cam Thomas, there doesn’t appear to be any interest.

Indeed, Brett Siegel of Clutch Points, Michael Scotto of Hoophype and Ian Begley of SNY agreed that the Nets aren’t making calls, but instead in listening mode. Moreover, they believe that the Nets may see a role for both in building a contender next season.

Siegel who as recently as ten days ago laid out a potential trade package the Golden State Warriors could offer the Nets, stepped back from the Porter-to-Golden State rumors … the Warriors need to replace Jimmy Butler out for a year after tearing his ACL. He wrote:

[T]he Dubs were exploring the trade market for a potential final piece to solidify their title chances. In doing so, Michael Porter Jr. from the Brooklyn Nets was a prominent name connected to Golden State, given his offensive surge and 3-point shooting on the wing.

League sources told ClutchPoints that these two teams did speak to one another during the first week of 2026, but no real trade talks regarding Porter ever materialized. The Warriors, who had internally discussed the idea of pursuing Porter, received indications that his asking price would be too much compared to the trade market as a whole.

It no longer appears as if pursuing Porter is a path the Warriors would like to go down in the wake of Butler’s injury, especially with Moses Moody and Buddy Hield, two players who would likely be salary fillers to acquire a player like Porter, seeing their respective roles elevated.

Siegel also dismissed talk that the Lakers might be interested in MPJ.

While quickly on the topic of Porter, it is worth mentioning that the talk of the Los Angeles Lakers possibly throwing their hat in the mix for Porter isn’t a realistic possibility and something they do not have a desire to do, sources said. The Lakers have signaled that they do not want to take on big money at this time, regardless of how many years a player has left on their contract.

Porter, 27, is in the midst of a deal that will pay him $38.3 million this season, then $40.8 million next season. Bottom line, he said, echoing Shams Charania among others, is that the Nets intend to keep Porter, perhaps revisiting interest in the off-season or alternately using him as a key player in building an improved roster next season.

All indications coming out of Brooklyn are that the Nets are very comfortable keeping Porter and don’t feel a need to rush a decision. Trade talks could be revisited in the summer, as rival teams continue to get the sense that the Nets will keep Porter as their focal scorer heading into the offseason.

Similarly, Mike Scotto who’s been reporting the Nets are likely to keep MPJ reiterated his thinking on Begley’s podcast. His overall theme: the Nets are taking but not making calls on either Porter or Nic Claxton. Both have been subjects of “exploratory” interest but so far the Nets are in listening mode.

Full Putback show here: https://t.co/ZudHV8nvO1

— Ian Begley (@IanBegley) January 22, 2026

With MPJ, I would say for Brooklyn they’re not shopping him. They’re listening, certainly. He’s been all-star caliber player. You’re asset-driven. If you get draft picks more than MPJ, you do it. But they also want to be better next year. I’ve been told he could be a part of it. There’s no urgency to move him now.

Expiring plus all star production, it’s valuable. I don’t see them moving MPJ without the asking price.

Nic Claxton, I heard there was exploratory interest with Golden State, Pacers. I did not get the sense that anything close. For Nic, his contract descends. For Nets, there’s no urgency to move him and he could be a part of it next year.

The Warriors interest is new. In previous reporting, the Pacers and Lakers had been listed as teams interested in the 26-year-old.

Cam Thomas, he thinks, is unlikely to be moved other than in a bigger deal, assuming one emerges. Thomas, who recently switched agents, is on a $6.0 million qualifying offer and as such can veto any trade on any grounds. Most pundits believe his value, low to begin with, has dropped even further following his latest bout with hamstring issues. Said Scotto:

Cam Thomas, I think has to be included in a bigger deal if they’re going to do something. Stand alone value, he’s struggled and I think a lot of people around the league think his time (with Brooklyn) is going to come to an end given the extension negotiations they had.

Begley agreed and said he thinks Thomas is more likely to wait till the summer when he’ll be an unrestricted free agent and “sign elsewhere.”

Scotto also revisited Boston’s interest in Day’Ron Sharpe from last summer. The Celtics had discussed signing Sharpe but didn’t have the cap space and the Nets inked him to a very reasonable, two-year, $12.5 millon deal with the second year a team option. At the same time, the Nets and Celtics had discussed a salary dump in which Anferee Simons would come to the Nets along with draft pick(s) but Celtics resisted sending out a first rounder.

Day’ron Sharpe – Boston likes him, and {there’d been) some conversation for Anfree Simmons previously, if Nets could get a first round pick for him but Boston has resisted. Now, they’ve been in the thick of the East and pendulum could shift and they could be a buyer – add Day’Ron or someone else (Zubac), lots of moving parts.

Scotto added that even if the Nets don’t make a big move they are likely to play a role in facilitating trades among teams with apron concerns. He anticipates they’ll come away with “draft compensation” if that happens.

Nets will be an active team and they have to use the cap space to get draft compensation — 2nd round — teams have to get below the luxury tax or three team/four team trades that need Nets cap space.

The Nets currently have 20 seconds through 2032 along with 13 firsts, ten of which are tradeable, as well as league-leading $15.3 million in cap space. It’s that wealth of assets that will likely get them calls over the next two weeks.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-rumors/104892/rumor-round-up-all-indications-mpj-is-sticking-around

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE Discussion: Boston Celtics at Brooklyn Nets, 7:30 PM ET

There isn’t much good news to report after a 54-point loss to the Knicks, but we’ll offer one: the Nets have an opportunity to make up for it against the Celtics. Best part about an 82-game season as most players and coaches will tell you.

Celtics (27-16) @ Nets (12-30)​

WHEN: 7:30 PM ET

WHERE: Barclays Center in Brooklyn, NY

WATCH: YES Network / WFAN on radio

---

PREVIEW​

Back when KD asked out of Brooklyn in 2022, one of the biggest names connected to the Nets was Jaylen Brown. Shams reported the Celtics offered Brown, Derrick White, and a first-rounder. Of course, the Nets moved KD to Phoenix in a masterclass that subsequently led to even more picks in the Mikal Bridges trade. Does that outweigh having a Finals MVP and leading MVP candidate tho? Does it matter? Tonight it does. This is what the Nets are dealing with, in Jordan Greene’s words:

“Through the season, Brown is averaging 29.8 points on 48.8 % from the field. In the last three games, Brown is averaging 34.3 and nine. Not to mention his leadership. After long being looked at as a second option, Brown is proving that he has the skillset and mindset to lead a team of his own. Other members of the Celtics have been making big leaps as well. Derrick White is still one of the best two-way players in the game, Payton Pritchard has emerged as a starting point guard, and Luka Garza, the former Iowa superstar, is contributing well as a stretch five. He’s currently shooting 47.1 % from the 3-point line. If he had enough shot attempts, he’d qualify as the NBA’s second best from beyond the arc. Who knew? Apparently Brad Stevens.”

---

INJURY REPORT​

Haywood Highsmith — OUT (Right Knee Surgery, Injury Recovery)

Tyson Etienne — OUT (G League Two-Way Assignment)

Chaney Johnson — OUT (G League Two-Way Assignment)

E.J. Liddell — OUT (G League Two-Way Assignment)

Ben Saraf — OUT (G League Assignment)

---

Discussion​

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-disc...ion-boston-celtics-at-brooklyn-nets-730-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

In wake of historic beatdown, Nets talked about moving on

The Brooklyn Nets sulked back to the visitors’ locker room after a historic, 54-point loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday night. Jordi Fernández headed to a brief postgame presser, where he fell on the sword in his typically monotone style. Did the head coach really believe he was “responsible” for the ass-kicking, that halfway through the season “players are not responsible for it, so I got to make sure that they understand the values that we have,” or was it just something to say?

Players did not tear the visiting locker room apart. Rookie Drake Powell mentioned that a couple veterans spoke a sentence or two, but it was not exactly a scene out of Remember the Titans. Guys got dressed leisurely, sat on their phones, and chatted — maybe slightly softer, a little more somber, than normal.

“I mean, I don’t know if I said much directly after,” said Michael Porter Jr. Friday. “We all were kind of a little — obviously just had our feelings about the game. But later that night, I texted the guys and just told them like, ‘yo, that’s my fault. I’ve got to come in with that energy.’”

To Porter Jr. and the Nets, Wednesday was not a shameful chapter in a rivalry matchup or a devastating blow to team morale. It was a bad day at work.

“It’s the time leading up to the game,” explained MPJ at Friday’s shootaround. “It’s the day off, how you spent your day off in between games, how much sleep you got. All those things play a part to how your body, your nervous system, your mind feels when it’s tip-off time. And I felt like those two days were a little shaky for me in terms of preparation, and that’s what separates the good players and the average players from the great players, that time in between.”

Playing 82 games in 170 days does not provide much time for reflection, only for routine. Nic Claxton finally used the E-word on Friday morning, but he wasn’t stewing over the loss: “I’m in the present now. We focused on tonight, we know we got to be a better team tonight, because that’s not gonna happen again. t’s unacceptable. Obviously, it was embarrassing. We’ll be ready to go tonight.”

Nets fans seeking more public atonement from their leaders were out of luck. But Porter and Claxton veterans that they’ve had to be despite being 27 and 26, didn’t have to grovel; instead, they gave the Boston Celtics (missing Derrick White) one hell of a game on Friday night.

Now, there were embarrassing moments in this one too. Barclays Center was filled Celtics fans cheering their hearts out and serenading Jaylen Brown with unmistakable “M-V-P” chants far louder than any “Broooooook-lyyyyyn” chants begun by the PA announcer. I felt particularly bad for two die-hard Nets fans in front of press row, about to triumph over the sea of green they were engulfed in before their favorite team defended a last-second sideline-out-of-bounds play befitting of their 12-31 record…

Hugo González. CLUTCH.

Hits the triple to send the game to DOUBLE OVERTIME pic.twitter.com/lszFiZIoiC

— NBA (@NBA) January 24, 2026

Still, Claxton and Porter fulfilled their promise. Though MPJ’s impact wavered as the game went on, he indeed brought the right energy out of the gate, cutting hard and crashing the glass. Noah Eagle called him “spry” on the YES Network broadcast. Claxton capably guarding Jaylen Brown in isolation was crucial to Brooklyn’s defensive gameplan, and Brown ultimately shot 9-of-27.

Postgame, Jordi Fernández said he was “proud of the brand of basketball we played, the competitiveness. We got better today, and that’s most important.”

MPJ respectfully disagreed: “We lost. That’s all I really care about. I don’t care about no fight, personally. Obviously it was a better performance collectively than last game, but we still lost. So it was a game we should have won. We’ve lost too many games this year that come down to the wire like this.”

Brooklyn improved their performance tenfold from Wednesday to Friday. Alas, it was Friday’s loss that bothered Brooklyn’s veterans more…

Nic Claxton with a very responsible reaction to Hugo's game-tying three: pic.twitter.com/v2QumrSzzd

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 24, 2026

Claxton was still muttering to himself about the loss in the locker room postgame. Wednesday’s loss might have elucidated the effect that organizational tanking has on its players — and why you try to keep their duration short. But Friday’s loss showed that players are wholly divorced from that strategy. While clearly an optimal development for Brooklyn’s long-term prospects, especially with the New Orleans Pelicans and Indiana Pacers picking up wins on the same night, this one stung.

“We played a really good game,” said Clax. “I feel like we deserved to win. We just didn’t execute enough down the stretch, so we got to learn from it. But this is a tough loss though. This one really hurt.”

With the trade deadline 12 days away, both Claxton and Porter Jr. are sure to have a go bag packed at all times. But neither of them seem too concerned about the possibility of being traded.

“It seems like it’s the same thing every year, whether it’s — I mean, it’s a part of the business,” said Clax. “You see certain teammates, certain names in trade rumors or whatever, but you just got to be where your feet are and be a professional. It’s cliché, but it is what it is. It’s our job to come out here and perform whenever we put on a Brooklyn Nets uniform.”

MPJ. agreed: “Honestly, I’m just going with the flow. Whatever happens, happens. It’s out of my control. So, I’ve voiced already that I’m enjoying my time here, and I’m enjoying getting to grow with these guys and the day-to-day process with these guys. But everything else, I just try to let it be what it’s going to be.”

Brooklyn’s two highest-paid players have been pushed into early vet-status as a result of being on the NBA’s youngest team. This week, they were right for the part, easily shrugging a historic loss and trade rumors off their shoulders before leading one of Brooklyn’s most competitive games in 2026.

The Nets are 12-31, the worst team either player has been on — for MPJ, by a long shot. Now, they get to escape a brutal snowstorm in the Northeast by starting a five-game road trip in sunny Los Angeles. Once again, the task will be to rebound from a brutal loss; is it the same as rebounding from an outright embarrassment?

“No,” says Porter “It’s different. You learn from them in different ways. Obviously what happened at MSG the other night is unacceptable and there’s unlimited things to learn from. But tonight there’s very specific things, late-game situations. So you can learn something from any game.”

Nic Claxton simply sighed: “It’s so many games when you play an 82-game season. So, you really just can’t get too high, you can’t get too low. You get beat by 50, you got to be ready to respond. If you lose a tough game like this, you just kind of just got to be even-keeled through everything.”

While that is certainly a clichéd sentiment, the Nets just covered the entire bandwidth of defeat in three days, from Wednesday’s embarrassment to Friday’s gut-punch. In a losing season that only promises to continue down this path, that cliché may is a damn useful one.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...historic-beatdown-nets-talked-about-moving-on

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Grant Nelson shines in just 19 minutes as Long Island wins big

The Long Island Nets returned to their home court on Friday night, January 23, for a showdown with the 10-2 Toronto Raptors 905, the G League’s best team. Long Island featured the three Brooklyn two-ways – E.J. Liddell, Tyson Etienne and Chaney Johnson – as well as Brooklyn’s rookie assignee, Ben Saraf but 7-footer Grant Nelson, who is not under contract with the big club, would play hero in this one, contributing to the big Long Island win in a number of ways.

100 career points for Grant Nelson pic.twitter.com/hnJswyYEnI

— Long Island Nets (@LongIslandNets) January 24, 2026

Nelson finished this game with 20 points in less than 19 minutes on the court. The 20 points led the team, despite the 23-year-old playing the fewest minutes among the starters. The effort also marked the Alabama product’s second career game with at least 20 points for Long Island. Nelson shot the ball more than effectively, draining seven of his eight shot attempts. He didn’t take any shots from deep, but he went perfect from the foul stripe, hitting all four of his shots. Nelson also played a very physical game and has looked great in his five starts since a seven-week layoff due to an ankle injury…

Grant Nelson on his strong performances, his injury scare tonight, and a potential two way deal.@NetsDaily #StrongIsland #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/eUoiMxuFk1

— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) January 24, 2026

Following the game, NetsDaily had a chance to speak with Nelson about his mindset on how well he’s been performing in these games.

“I’m really just grateful to be back on the court,” Nelson says. “Tonight I think my teammates did a good job at moving the ball and getting off of it early, because the first two times we played them we gave up 40 points off our turnovers and 23 in the other. We lost by like 20-something in one and like seven in the other. I think tonight we just did a lot better, followed their scouting report, and just came out with the win.”

He picked up multiple tough lay-ups, even converting on a couple of and-ones. More impressively, Nelson even found Ben Saraf with the ball and boxed out two of Toronto’s players at the same time, leading to a wide-open lay-up for the Brooklyn rookie. His physical style can lead to scary moments, like in the first half when he went up for a tough lay-up in the first quarter and came down awkwardly.

Nelson was out for most of the first quarter, but re-entered the game as soon as the second quarter came around after he worked with the Long Island trainer on the sideline. After the game, Nelson told ND, “I just tweaked my ankle a little bit. Nothing too bad. It was obviously good enough to keep playing.” Nelson also reached 100 career points in the win and recorded a game-best plus-minus of +26.

Over his five starts, Nelson is averaging 30.1 points and 12.6 rebounds per 36 minutes and 75%.

With more performances like this, Nelson will become a player to watch for a two-way spot, should a spot open up. Following his impressive performance, Nelson was asked if he could see himself getting a two-way deal with Brooklyn and if that’s a goal of his. “Yeah, for sure,” Nelson told ND. “That’s been a goal of mine since the summer like right after the draft, to get that two-way spot with Brooklyn. I’m still competing for it and still playing for it, so hopefully soon.”

Teams traditionally review two-way contracts at the trade deadline which is now 12 days away. In the past, the Nets have both moved players up from two-ways to standard NBA deals or waived players from their two-way contracts while retaining their G League rights.

Brooklyn rookie Ben Saraf saw a bit of an improvement in this one. Last time on the court, Saraf connected on just two of his 12 shots and went one-for-five from deep. Friday nigh, he finished with nine points on 3-of-11 shooting, missing all five of his 3-point attempts. When asked about this performance of late and his mindset coming out of it, Saraf had this to say:

“I think nothing changed for me,” Saraf says. “I have to keep shooting the ball with confidence is what the team wants me to do. Same for today, I didn’t hit the threes. 0-for-5, but I think I have to keep shooting the ball.”

Ben Saraf on his brutal shooting performance last game, his performance tonight, and the Brooklyn Nets’ 56 point loss to the New York Knicks.@NetsDaily #StrongIsland #NetsWorld pic.twitter.com/qwesdFuWZ7

— Scott Mitchell (@Scott44Mitchell) January 24, 2026

Despite how slight it may have been, any improvement at this point is a good improvement.

“I feel like for me just sticking to the simple things,” Saraf says. “I think that’s what the team wants me to do. It starts with the defense. First of all, it’s a defense for us. Today was a better game for me on the defensive side. Offensively, it’s just keep practicing, keep shooting the ball, and it’ll fall in.”

Saraf was on Long Island during Brooklyn’s historically ugly loss against the Knicks. and offered some advice to his teammates at Barclays Center. “Stick to the basics,” Saraf told ND. “For Jordi, the most important thing is to play hard. So, I’m sure we’ll fix it.”

We saw a very uncharacteristic game from E.J. Liddell in this one. He connected on just one of his 12 shots, including missing all seven of his tries from deep. However, where Liddell did damage to Toronto was on the foul line. Liddell connected on four of his five tries from the foul stripe. He finished with eight points.

Liddell shone in the rebounding department. Liddell hauled in 11 rebounds and had one assist to his credit. Liddell’s 11 rebounds led not only the team, but the game. Despite an ugly performance shooting the ball, Liddell remains one of the top shooters.

Brooklyn two-way player Chaney Johnson was second on the team in scoring with 16 points. He shot the ball very well, connecting on five of his six shots, including hitting both of his shots from deep. Johnson also went two-for-three from the foul stripe. He finished with four rebounds and three assists. In another characteristic performance, the Nets’ third two-way player, Tyson Etienne, took only five shots, connecting on two of them.

Long Island guard Malachi Smith added 14 points, 10 rebounds, nine assists, and two steals in 31 minutes as he set his Long Island high for rebounds and matched his career-high assist total. Smith shot 54.5 percent (6-for-11) from the field and 50 percent (2-for-4) from deep and finished without any turnovers in the game.

To round out the starters, Nate Williams tallied 15 points, as well as six rebounds, two assists, one steal, and four blocks. Williams’ four blocks led the game, having more than the entire Toronto team combined. Meanwhile, Alex Schumacher, a 6’3” 24-year-old shooting guard signed out of the Suns organization, made his debut for Long Island in this one, and did well. He finished with 12 points and shot the ball very effectively, hitting 4-of-5.

The loss pushed the Raptors out of the top spot in the G League. They’re now tied with the Greensboro Swarm at 10-3, while the Nets are now 8-6.

Next Up​

The Long Island Nets (8-6) return to the court on Monday night, January 26th, for a showdown with the Motor City Cruise. The game tips off at 7:00 p.m. EST and can be watched on the NBA G League site, as well as on the YES Network.

• Boxscore: Long Island Nets 109, Raptors 905 93 – G League
• Game Highlights: Long Island Nets 109, Raptors 905 93 (Video) – G League

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/longislan...9-minutes-on-the-court-in-big-long-island-win

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

From question marks to rotation pieces, Nets’ rookies growing fast

Early in their Nets careers, Drake Powell and Nolan Traore looked like the team’s two rookies least equipped for the NBA.

One didn’t impress in college and missed most of the preseason. The other arrived built like a featherweight and played like the game was on fast-forward.

Powell wasn’t a starter or a featured player at the University of North Carolina, then spent Summer League and the opening stretch of preseason sidelined with a lingering knee injury. ESPN projected him as a second-round pick in its final 2025 mock draft, but Brooklyn selected him at No. 22 felt like a leap of faith, 10 spots earlier than where ESPN had him.

Traore, meanwhile, didn’t look ready from the moment he arrived. At 175 pounds, he was the lightest player from the NBA Combine to be selected in the draft. Even at the G League level, he played like he had a shorter shot clock than everybody else, piling up turnovers while hurrying through possessions that didn’t need to be rushed.

Now, two players who once had their NBA caliber questioned are averaging over 20 minutes per game this month, a reflection of both impressive development and growing trust from the coaching staff.

POWELL’S TWO-WAY VALUE​

Powell’s overall collegiate stat line didn’t jump off the page, but a closer look showed some measurables that hinted at his two-way potential.

While he wasn’t lighting up scoreboards with the Tar Heels, he did score efficiently, shooting 37.9%from three and 48.3%from the field. Beyond his game action, there were some positives. His athleticism was on full display at the 2025 NBA Combine, finishing with the top standing (37.5 inches) and max (43 inches) vertical jumps. He also placed among the top five at his position in both the agility drill and the three-quarter sprint.

After ramping-up early in the season — while managing his injury, Powell is now operating at full capacity and proving to be a valuable asset. In a 116–113 loss to the New Orleans Pelicans earlier this month, the North Carolina product scored a career-high 16 points, including a clutch three with five seconds remaining to cut the deficit to one. His defensive impact has shown up as well, recording two steals in Brooklyn’s recent 130–126 loss to the Boston Celtics.

“I see him as a very good shooter, a very good playmaker, I can run plays for him on the second side, he can handle in transition, he can guard the best perimeter player, his athleticism is top in the NBA for his position,” said Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez. “We believe he can be not just a good but a great two-way player, which means that he’s going to be a very good defender.”

That’s high praise for the league’s 19th youngest player.

At 6’5” (in barefeet) and 195 pounds, the 20-year-old possesses the blend of size, athleticism and shooting ability teams look for in an ideal two-way contributor. Sean Marks understood that not all five of his first-round picks would become stars but for a team hoping to eventually contend, filling specific roles matters and Powell is beginning to find and prove his niche.

TRAORE TURNING CHAOS INTO CONTROL​

Based on the way he opened the season, Traore’s recent improvement may come as the biggest surprise in the group.

The Frenchman was a mess … and that’s putting it kindly. He averaged 4.5 turnovers per game through his first four appearances with the Long Island Nets, a rate that would currently lead the NBA. But slow starts aren’t unfamiliar to him. During his time with Saint-Quentin in France’s LNB Elite League, Traore followed a similar arc before being named the FIBA Champions League Best Young Player.

By December, he was averaging 22.2 points, eight assists, and 1.4 steals per game in the G League while cutting his turnovers down to 2.2 before being called back up to Brooklyn. While he still uses his high-end speed to his advantage, the game has slowed down for Traore, allowing him to manipulate defenders with sudden changes of pace.

“He took full advantage of the opportunities he had with Long Island,” said Fernández. “And when he came back here, he did so with a different spirit and a lot more confidence.”

After playing in just ten games throughout the first three months of the season, the rookie point guard has already played in 13 in January, averaging 7.8 points and 3.5 assists while playing 23.4 minutes per game.

During Brooklyn’s 130–126 double-overtime loss to the Boston Celtics on Friday night, Traore logged career highs in both minutes (37) and points (21), while also adding three rebounds, two assists, two steals, and a block. Indeed, he became the youngest player in franchise history to score 20 points in a game. (He’s also the fifth youngest player in Nets history.)

“His ability to touch the paint, how slippery he is, obviously, he’s gonna keep growing,” Fernandez said after the game. “He’s got to grow that voice, and I’m going to trust him. He’s doing a great job.”

JORDI’S NURTURING​

Ultimately, the rapid development of these young players can’t be discussed without giving credit to Fernández. While growth still depends on the players themselves, much of it comes down to how they’re used, challenged, and ultimately put in positions to succeed.

There’s no tough love without the “love” part, and Fernández does a strong job of reminding his young players what they’re capable of while also jumping on every opportunity to correct them or clean up areas they can improve.

When Powell played only two minutes during a loss to the Dallas Mavericks back in December, his coach didn’t hesitate to call him out publicly.

“These young guys need to understand how important every minute you play is,” Fernández said. “If the intentions are there, I’m completely fine. But if the mistakes are from easing into the game, that’s not how we do it here.”

The following game, Powell responded with 13 points, four rebounds, three assists and a steal while helping the Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks.

For the Nets’ young players, progress hasn’t come through comfort or sugarcoating, but through constructive criticism and accountability.

It’ll be a while, maybe a couple of years, for pundits and fans to finally assess the Nets 2025 Draft, but for Powell and Traore, there’s already enough for change perceptions.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-feat...rotation-pieces-nets-rookies-are-growing-fast

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

LIVE DISCUSSION: Brooklyn Nets at Los Angeles Clippers, 9:00 PM ET

Late night Nets! NFL Conference Championship games are clearing up in LA nonetheless, which means folks are gearing up for Nets-Clippers. The Nets will be shorthanded yet again in the first of five on the road.

Nets (12-31) @ Clippers (20-24)​

9:00 PM ET
Intuit Dome (Inglewood, CA)
YES Network

“As the Nets PR staff noted to ND, the trip west was eventful thanks to the weather in the Northeast… but they are now safely ensconced in L.A. where it’s 62 degrees and partly sunny. Nic Claxton and Day’ron Sharpe are going to be in for a fight on the inside tonight. Ivica Zubac is tied for fifth in the NBA in rebounding at a shade over 11 boards per game. He’s especially tough to deal with on the offensive glass as he captures almost four o-boards a night. To make things more challenging for the Brooklyn duo, Zu is tremendous at the rim.”- Brian

INJURY REPORT​

Nets

• Cam Thomas
• Nolan Traore
• Noah Clowney
• Haywood Highsmith
• Chaney Johnson
• Tyson Etienne

Clippers

• Bradley Beal — OUT (hip fracture)
• Bogdan Bogdanovic — OUT (hamstring)
• Derrick Jones Jr. — OUT (knee)
• Kawhi Leonard — QUESTIONABLE (knee)

DISCUSSION​

Share thoughts and react, but please be respectful. NetsDaily prides itself on being a safe space for Nets and basketball fans alike to have healthy conversation. Reach out to Anthony Puccio or Net Income with any issues.

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-disc...ooklyn-nets-at-los-angeles-clippers-900-pm-et

 

[Brooklyn Nets]

Brooklyn Nets demolished again, this time by L.A. Clippers, 126-89

Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images

At first, it was just a bad start. It quickly grew worse. And by the time Kawhi Leonard jogged into a pull-up three, extending the lead to 47-14 and forcing Jordi Fernández to call another timeout, it was officially ugly. The Los Angeles Clippers had dogged the Brooklyn Nets in less than 15 minutes of game-time, and the next three-ish quarters would be simply cosmetic for the Clippers, a botched botox for the Nets.

The Nets never let it get quite as bad as their 54-point loss to the New York Knicks on Wednesday, nor their franchise-worst 59-point loss to these Clippers about a year ago. But when you’re trailing by nearly 40 points in the first half, it feels about the same…

Nets get gifted a 5-on-4 possession and miss four shots

Kris Dunn limps to the sideline in the middle of the play and limps back in for the rebound pic.twitter.com/2dUsmmVyN8

— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) January 26, 2026

If the Nets hadn’t been blown out by the Knicks earlier this week, they could have used the injury excuse, as feeble as it would be. Noah Clowney (back soreness), Cam Thomas (ankle sprain), and Nolan Traore (illness) all missed this one; Terance Mann was re-inserted into the starting lineup and Ben Saraf saw his first NBA action since December 6.

But Brooklyn shot 20% from the field in the first quarter, trailing 38-14 after 12 minutes of play, quickly destroying any hope that Friday’s resilient performance against the Boston Celtics was a sign of things to come. The Nets had their issues in that game too — notably their crunch-time defense — but they took a formidable opponent right down to the wire. With a career-best night from rookie Nolan Traore (21 points), it was just about the perfect loss in a tanking season.

Sunday’s night’s loss to the Clippers just stunk. Ben Saraf scored six points with four turnovers, Drake Powell put up five points and four turnovers, and Danny Wolf shot 3-of-13, inventing new ways to miss layups. Egor Dëmin shot just 3-of-11, but he did hit three straight 3-pointers while getting fouled on another in the third quarter, giving the Nets fans bored enough to keep the game on for that long something to hold onto.

Not that the veterans did much better. In fact, Wolf and Dëmin were the only Nets to reach double-digits; the team shot 33.7% from the floor and a grotesque 20.9% from deep. However, all 12 Nets played and all 12 scored, including a triple from E.J. Liddell, so that’s something? The highlight of the game may have been Terance Mann getting a technical foul on Dëmin’s behalf…

John Collins pushes Egor Demin after he wraps up James Harden on a fastbreak. Terance Mann comes in and shoves Collins with some words for him after.

Vet sticking up for the rookie. pic.twitter.com/CMCIyXz2XW

— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) January 26, 2026

Conversely, the Clippers shot 56.4% from the floor, including a tidy 12-of-25 from three. Like the Nets, all 12 of their guys scored, led by 28 points from Kawhi and 19 from James Harden.

“It’s part of life and part of learning and part of finding the next Nets,” said Jordi Fernández. “Because we know and believe that we have the right vision here of doing what we want to do and being successful as an organization with great ownership and management. And we’re obviously going to need the right pieces on the floor, the play-and-compete is a certain standard. And right now, out of three games, one out of three as far as being competitive is not good enough.”

Chris Carrino and Sarah Kustok did a much better job at filling space than I’m doing with the rest of this article, discussing the impending Super Bowl matchup and Kerry Kittles’ career. Carrino even closed with positivity, noting that Brooklyn shot 22-of-25 from the line in the formidable Intuit Dome, dropping a gem: “The Whammy beats The Wall.”

Fernández was not so cheerful in postgame: “I brought this up before: You can lose, and you can be a loser. For 18 minutes we lost, and we’re competitive. And for 30, we’re losers. So we have to decide what we want to be and who we want to be.”

The NBA has not yet announced the date of the 2026 NBA Draft Lottery.

Final Score: Los Angeles Clippers 126, Brooklyn Nets 89

Milestone Watch​

Nothing to see here. Move along.

Next Up​

The Nets continue their five-game road trip by paying a visit to old friend and Coach of the Year candidate Jordan Ott. Tip-off against the Phoenix Suns is scheduled for 9:00 p.m. ET.

• Boxscore: Los Angeles Clippers 126, Brooklyn Nets 89 – NBA
• Game Highlights: Los Angeles Clippers 126, Brooklyn Nets 89 (Video) – NBA
• Jordi Fernandez PostGame Interview (Video) – YES Network
• Kawhi Leonard, James Harden fuel fast start as Clippers rout Nets 126-89 – AP
• Nets take embarrassing beating from Clippers for fifth straight loss – Brian Lewis – New York Post
• Nets’ losing ways carrying into road trip that could help tanking cause – Dan Martin – New York Post
• From Knicks disaster to Clippers blowout, Nets can’t stop the bleeding – C.J. Holmes – New York Daily News
• Nets player grades: Danny Wolf drops 14 in 126-89 loss at the Clippers – Sharif Phillips-Keaton – USA TODAY

Source: https://www.netsdaily.com/nets-scor...s-vs-clippers-126-89-kawhi-leonard-danny-wolf