Brooklyn Nets’ Mikal Bridges (1) is helped to his toes by Nic Claxton (33) and Cam Thomas (24) throughout the second half of the staff’s NBA basketball recreation towards the Indiana Pacers in New York, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AP Photograph/Peter Ok. Afriyie)
NEW YORK — Cam Thomas scored 27 factors, rookie Noah Clowney had a career-high 22 factors and 10 rebounds, and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Indiana Pacers 115-111 within the NBA on Wednesday evening to separate a home-and-home set.
The Nets have been eradicated from postseason competition when Atlanta beat Detroit at house to wrap up no less than a spot within the NBA Play-In Event. Brooklyn final missed the playoffs in 2017-18.
“We’re attempting to construct championship character, we’re attempting to construct aggressive character,” Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie mentioned. “And that’s simply caring for each other and competing it doesn’t matter what the end result is.”
READ: Nets flip to Kevin Ollie looking for to salvage NBA season
Mikal Bridges added 17 factors, and Nic Claxton had 14 factors and 13 rebounds. The Nets had misplaced their earlier two video games, the final a 133-111 loss in Indianapolis on Monday evening.
Clowney, who’s the second youngest participant (19 years, 264 days) within the league after Memphis rookie GG Jackson (19 years, 108 days) and has break up time with the Nets’ G-League affiliate, shot 7 for 9 from the sphere and made 3 3-pointers.
He scored 14 of his 22 factors within the second quarter and have become the second-youngest participant in franchise historical past to eclipse 20 factors in a recreation.
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“I obtained to play with the identical confidence I play with within the G (League) that I do right here,” Clowney mentioned. “I don’t need to begin taking part in shy after which I’m taking part in unhealthy.”
Pascal Siakam scored 26 factors and Tyrese Haliburton had for Indiana. The Pacers had gained three in a row.
“It was an uneven compete stage for us tonight,“ Indiana coach Rick Carlisle mentioned. “You already know, the second quarter was our undoing and the second half (we) simply left an excessive amount of to likelihood,” Pacers coach Rick Carlisle mentioned.
Brooklyn fell behind by 14 factors within the first half after which led by 13 factors within the third quarter. Haliburton sparked a 10-2 spurt with seven factors of his personal, together with a 16-foot jumper that reduce it to 88-87 with 37 seconds left within the quarter.
The Nets led 100-95 with 5:57 left in regulation, however Siakam outscored them 11-3 and put Indiana forward 106-103 with. 2:16 to play,
After Claxton’s dunk, Siakam answered with a basket earlier than Bridges hit a 3-pointer in entrance of the Indiana bench to even it a 108 with 1:23 left.
Indiana referred to as a timeout and Siakam dedicated an offensive foul driving to the basket. Dennis Schroder hit a 3-pointer and Clowney made two free throws to make it 112-108 with 40 second left.
Haliburton then hit a 3-pointer with 9 seconds remaining, and Jalen Wilson sealed it with two free throws.
Pacer led 31-19 on the finish of the primary quarter earlier than the Nets responded within the second by taking pictures 60% from the sphere and outscoring Indiana 42-31.
“That was only a poor defensive quarter,” Haliburton mentioned. “I feel it gave them confidence and that allowed them to type of make their run.”
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Pacers: Host Oklahoma Metropolis on Friday evening.
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Nets: Host Detroit on Saturday evening.
