The Brooklyn Nets continue their tanking season, going 4-16 after a win against the Charlotte Hornets. Losses aside, the Nets’ young core continues to have its moments and highlights on the court. Egor Demin, Drake Powell, and now Danny Wolf have showcased their skills, proving that something interesting is building for the Nets’ future.
They are far from a superstar team capable of making a playoff run, but the young core can lay a foundation for a bright future in Brooklyn. The Nets currently hold 13th place in the Eastern Conference.
Brooklyn Stay in Last Place in NBA Cup Group Stage Play After Loss To Philadelphia
The Brooklyn Nets suffered a 115-103 loss to the Philadelphia 76ers in another NBA Cup Group Stage loss, led by Tyrese Maxey. Maxey put up 22 points, Quentin Grimes had 19 points, and Paul George had 14 to help lead Philly to victory. The win also included a 20-point performance by Jared McCain off the bench.
For the Nets, it was Egor Demin’s career-high of 23 points, doing his best to will his way to a win after creating a 74-65 lead in the fourth quarter. While Demin cut the lead down in the fourth quarter, there was not enough time for the Nets to catch up, as the 76ers sealed the win after a three-pointer by Adem Bona. The Nets are now 1-3 in the East Group B of the NBA Cup standings.
Demin’s 23-point performance was the bright spot in Brooklyn’s loss. He showed confidence offensively by driving to the rim and shooting well throughout the night. Demin also played well without the ball, with nine rebounds and a steal. He did his best to share the ball with the team, putting up five assists, but the Nets struggled to make shots, giving Demin more assists.
The downside for Demin is his defense: he is too slow to guard smaller players and too weak against big men. Building muscle may do wonders for Demin defensively, but it may not happen until the offseason.
Bucks Snap Seven-Game Losing Streak With Win Over Brooklyn
The Milwaukee Bucks broke their seven-game losing streak in a 116 to 99 win over the Brooklyn Nets. It was Giannis Antetokounmpo’s 21 points that helped lead Milwaukee. Antetokounmpo’s 21 points were a significant milestone for the nine-time All-Star, as they helped propel him to pass the 21,000 points mark in his career. It was also AJ Green’s 15 points, Kevin Porter Jr., and Bobby Portis’ 13 points to help bring down Brooklyn.
For the Nets, it was rookie Danny Wolf’s fifth game of his career and a significant one at that. Wolf scored a career-high 22 points on 8 of 16 from the field, shooting 5-of-9 from the three-point line. The Nets were without Michael Porter Jr. due to back tightness, and were also missing Demin to help manage a previous injury he suffered during the Summer League.
Despite Wolf’s outstanding performance, the Nets did not play well against the Bucks and lacked confidence on the floor. Clowney only attempted three shots for the night, and Powell had three points despite being on the floor for 21 minutes.
The Nets looked timid, and a lack of confidence cost Brooklyn a potential opportunity to steal a win from the Bucks. While the result doesn’t matter, the lack of aggressiveness and hustle led to the loss.
Nets Take A Win Over Charlotte, Halt Two-Game Losing Streak
The Brooklyn Nets take a 116 to 103 win over the Charlotte Hornets to break their four-game losing streak. Porter Jr returned with a bang after coming back from a minor injury. His 35 points, Clowney’s 18 points, along with Nic Claxton’s double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds, and Powell and Wolf adding 10 off the bench, carried the Nets towards the win. Porter Jr. went berserk from the three-point line, going 7 for 11. Wolf and Clowney hit their shots from beyond the arc to help secure the win late in the fourth quarter.
Kon Knueppel had 18 points for the Hornets, with LaMelo Ball’s double-double with 12 points and 14 assists, and Collin Sexton’s 15 points. Their performances weren’t enough as Brooklyn took a win and broke the Hornets’ two-game winning streak.
The Nets showed potential in their win over Charlotte, especially with strong performances by Clowney and Wolf. They both hit clutch shots and proved they are built for the pressure of late-game moments. Porter Jr. played like he was never injured, putting up an excellent performance for Brooklyn and raising his stock even higher.
Clowney looked to be coming into his own, as his development throughout this season has been significant, and injuries have bogged down his potential last season.
What’s Next For The Nets?
Something is brewing up in Brooklyn that could have great potential. The losses may look bad on paper, but the young core’s consistently great play suggests the future might not be bleak for Nets fans. The development of all the recently acquired rookies, including Noah Clowney from 2023, is currently proving them worthy of NBA-level play.
The 2025 picks were initially confusing and frustrating for Brooklyn fans, but they are warming up to the young guys as they continue to put up impressive performances. The wins may not come now, but the skillset and potential are there if the Nets can soon conjure up an All-Star in next year’s draft.
