Inside The Nets

Brooklyn Nets lose to the Cleveland Cavalries in a blowout 95-118

The Nets are now on a three-game losing streak.

Peter Sunjic

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The Brooklyn Nets had a rough performance amidst all the injuries to the roster and trades earlier in the day. Those events led to the Nets being shorthanded with only nine active players for this game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Cavs took advantage, having an 11-point lead after the first quarter and never looking back. Cleveland won the game 118 to the Nets’ 95. Brooklyn’s loss marked the team’s second game this week when they did not exceed the 100-point mark.

“It started pretty early for them again. Just like Paris, Mitchell started off pretty aggressive and really got it going early and set the tone. He was able that again tonight, we responded even going into halftime,” Coach Vaughn said in his post-game press conference.

The Cavs have the Nets’ number

The loss was the third matchup between the two teams, and it was the Cavs’ third victory against the Nets. Cleveland has shown a mastery of beating the Nets, spearheaded by superstar performances from Donovan Mitchell.

Brooklyn had a short rotation due to the injuries. These issues led to rookie Jalen Wilson getting the starting nod, and he played a game-high 40 minutes. It was an impressive performance from the former Kansas Jayhawk, cementing himself as an energetic player who could support Mikal Bridges.

“It felt great, my dad was able to be here to watch it, felt like it was an awesome moment all around. Tough to lose like that, but at the end of the day, we can get better and translate that to Saturday,” Wilson said after his first career start in the league.

Speaking of the former Villanova Wildcat, Bridges scored 26 points. He did his best to shoulder the offensive load, but Cameron Thomas and Trendon Watford were the two other Nets who scored in double-digits.

Brooklyn has tough stretch before the All-Star Break

The Nets still have three games left before the All-Star Break, with the San Antonio Spurs visiting the Barclays Center on Saturday, then a back-to-back against the Boston Celtics. The first will be a home game, and the second will take Brooklyn on the road to TD Garden.

The Nets will likely get favored against the Spurs, but anything is possible when they have Victor Wembanyama on the roster. The back-to-back against Boston will be challenging because the Celtics are the best team in the Eastern Conference.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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