The Brooklyn Nets broke even this week, gaining one win and one loss heading into the All-Star Break. The Nets are now operating with Cam Thomas and are looking to readjust and get the young core rested and ready for the second half of the season. Playoff aspirations are nowhere to be found, but the Nets can solely focus on building the future.
The first half of the season shows promise among the recently drafted rookies, who are still figuring out the ins and outs of the NBA. Egor Demin is currently averaging 10.8 points, 3.3 assists, and 3.1 rebounds per game; Drake Powell is averaging 6.2 points, 1.5 assists, and 1.7 rebounds; Danny Wolf has 8.4 points, 2 assists, and 4.7 rebounds.
Lastly, Nolan Troare has 7.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. Unfortunately, Ben Saraf has been an outlier among the rookies, averaging 5.1 points, 2.7 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. While struggling, Saraf could pull things together and end the season with a strong second half. The rest of the rookies are adjusting to the NBA at an adequate level, with Demin looking to be a future star for Brooklyn.
The Nets end the first half of the 2026 NBA Season with an 18-38 record, and hold 13th place in the Eastern Conference.
Brooklyn Nets Go Back And Forth Against Chicago In Close Win
The Brooklyn Nets defeated the Chicago Bulls 123-115 in a late-game back-and-forth matchup. It was Nic Claxton’s double-double with 28 points and 10 rebounds that led the Brooklyn Nets to victory over Chicago. Behind him, Noah Clowney had 20 points, Powell had 14, Wolf and Traore had 13, and Ziaire Williams had 11 points. The Nets held onto a strong lead for the first half of the third quarter, going up 74-59.
The Chicago Bulls answered back by controlling the pace for the remainder of the quarter, running down Brooklyn with a 30-15 run over a nine-minute span. A pair of free throws by Chicago gave them their first lead since the second quarter, but Brooklyn did not waver.
The Nets took the lead back with a 12-6 run of their own. From there, the Nets and Bulls both traded leads, with Brooklyn taking over in the final minutes thanks to a layup by Wolf and a pair of free throws by Claxton to help put the game out of reach to win the game.
Traore was another key player in Monday’s victory, getting to his spots, making his shots, and playing well on defense. His performance was great, and he can look to have a strong second half if he keeps up the momentum.
Indiana Pacers Take Over Fourth Quarter And Beat Brooklyn
The Indiana Pacers rallied in the fourth quarter to defeat the Nets 115 to 110. It was Jarace Walker with 23 points, Micah Potter’s 19 points, and Ethan Thompson’s 15 points that helped Indiana to victory. Kam Jones hit a dagger three-pointer against Brooklyn to put the game away with 16 seconds left in the game.
Traore had 20 points, with Day’Ron Sharpe behind him with 19 points and 12 rebounds for a double-double. Ziaire Williams had 19 points as well to help the Brooklyn effort. The Nets took a big 31-18 lead in the first quarter and kept it, maintaining the advantage through the first half. The Pacers cut down the lead, outscoring the Nets 31 to 20 in the fourth quarter to retake the lead and grab the win.
A contributing factor to Brooklyn’s loss was its 16 turnovers. The bench played very well, and the team put on a good performance despite the loss. While the win would have been good, a loss against the Indiana Pacers boosts draft odds and increases the likelihood of grabbing a top star such as Cam Boozer or A.J. Dybantsa.
What’s Next For The Nets
With the All-Star Break soon underway, the Nets can recuperate and recover for the second half of the season. With no playoffs on the horizon for the franchise, the Nets can just play basketball and put up good individual numbers. While winning would be good for morale, the losses are more important for securing a future top draft pick this offseason.
