The Brooklyn Nets broke their losing streak with a win over the Boston Celtics in the NBA Cup Tournament. This now puts them at 1-2 in the Group Standings. The Nets, however, failed to capitalize on the momentum and lost two straight to the Toronto Raptors and the New York Knicks.
The Nets are now 3-14, placing them 13th in the Eastern Conference Standings. Currently, this puts them at a 12.5% chance to grab the number one pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, according to tankathon.com
Nets Learn From Mistakes, Grab Win Over Boston
The Brooklyn Nets bounced back after their loss against the Boston Celtics in their previous meeting, winning 113-105. It was Nic Claxton’s triple-double, 18 points, 11 rebounds, and 12 assists, that helped lead Brooklyn to the win. It was Claxton’s first triple-double of the season, and behind him in the box score was Michael Porter Jr.’s 33 points.
Noah Clowney was also a top scorer for Brooklyn with his 19 points. Jaylen Brown led the Celtics with 26 points, but missed a significant portion of the third and fourth quarters as Brooklyn had a three-point lead. The Nets took advantage of the absence of Brown with a 17 to 4 lead to help put the Nets up and secure a win.
It was a morale booster for both the Nets franchise and its fans. For the Nets to beat a top team like the Boston Celtics proves two things for the franchise: while the tanking has led to many losses, the Nets’ development of the young guys has been beneficial.
It also raises the stock of Michael Porter Jr. ahead of the trade deadline and could be a win-win for Porter Jr. and the Nets if the Nets make a smart trade that yields more draft picks.
Nets Go Back To Losing Column With Loss To Toronto Raptors
The Nets kept it close, but a 119-109 loss to the Toronto Raptors was not enough to beat the white-hot team. Scottie Barnes’ 17 points led the Raptors, along with Ja’Kobe Walter’s 16 points and RJ Barrett’s 16 points, to bring the Raptors their 11th win in the last 12 games. Unfortunately, Barrett left in the third quarter due to a sprained right knee suffered after grabbing a steal, causing a bad landing for Barrett.
For the Nets, it was veterans Tyrese Martin’s 26 points and Porter Jr’s 25 points, along with Clowney’s 22, to carry the offense. A double-double by Claxton with 10 points and 11 rebounds was also not enough for the Nets to get their second straight win.
The Nets kept it close in the fourth with a tie game, but a 10-0 run by the Raptors, led by Immanuel Quickley and his two three-pointers, helped put the game away.
Clowney was a positive takeaway for the Nets in their loss against Toronto. While he struggled in shot selection, going 1-for-7, he was able to play with contact offensively and get to the free-throw line. Clowney made his free-throw attempts and played well defensively with two blocks and two steals. It was a competitive game for the Nets, and the loss has its silver linings, with Clowney standing out.
Nets Fail To Grab Win Over Next Door Rival Knicks
The New York Knicks’ 113-100 win over the Brooklyn Nets made it another win for the team in Manhattan, as the Nets have not been able to beat the Knicks since 2023. It was Karl Anthony-Towns’ double-double with 37 points and 12 rebounds, and Jalen Brunson’s 27 points that helped New York gain another win over their borough rival. Clowney’s career high of 31 points and Porter Jr’s 16 weren’t enough offense from Brooklyn to get over on the Knicks.
It was the superstar tandem of Anthony-Towns and Mikal Bridges, with 63.6 percent shooting from the field, who combined for 23 points in the fourth quarter. While the game was even in the first half, the Knicks exploded offensively, outscoring Brooklyn 38-27, and secured their lead in the fourth thanks to Anthony-Towns and Bridges’ offensive performances.
Clowney was the standout once again with his 31-point performance, making it his career high. His development was a shock to fans, but brought much excitement for the future. It seems that Clowney’s injury last season hindered his development, and this season is a true development year for him.
For Clowney, developing quickly alongside the other rookies can give a preview of what this Nets franchise can create in the future. The losses will continue to pile up, but if the Nets’ rookies can develop and put up good performances on both ends of the floor, then the losses won’t matter, and the tanking can lead to a bright future for Brooklyn.
What’s Next For The Nets?
The tanking continues, but there have been some positives for Brooklyn this week. The losses continue, but it’s the least of their worries. The sudden improvement of Noah Clowney this past week has been a delight for fans to watch, and a win over the Boston Celtics could also bring about a morale boost for the locker room. The rookies have shown their potential, and more playing time could pose a threat in the future, but only if they continue to improve at a rate that shows many upsides.
This week showed that Jordi Fernandez can coach and keep games close against top Eastern Conference teams. The Nets are missing a star, and with Cam Thomas out, they don’t necessarily have a superstar-caliber player. Michael Porter Jr. has been playing amazingly, but he’s clearly not going to be a core piece of the Nets’ future.
His talent and performances could rub off on the young guys, and his tenure with the Nets could benefit both him and the rookies once he leaves in February.
