© Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The Brooklyn Nets blow out the Los Angeles Lakers to snap the four-game losing streak
After the heartbreaking loss to the Trail Blazers earlier in the week, the Brooklyn Nets proved a point against the Los Angeles Lakers. They didn't have the best of starts as they trailed the Lakers 28-37 after the first quarter, but they dominated the next three quarters, winning 130-112.
Cameron Thomas was superb off the bench, scoring a game-high 33 points. Nic Claxton was also a standout, getting a double-double of 22 points and 13 rebounds against an elite big man in Anthony Davis.
"Just staying aggressive, I saw that we started out a little slow, we got a slow start. I knew I had to come in and bring the energy," Thomas said during half-time after scoring 20 points in the first half. "Good thing I did because we're only down by six, we should've been down by more."
A well-rounded performance from the Nets
This was one of the most impressive performances from Brooklyn this season, as seven players scored in double figures. Cam and Nic led the way, but Spencer Dinwiddie had his second-straight 19-point game, and Mikal Bridges chipped in with 17 points.
Thomas led the way for Brooklyn early in the game, scoring 14 points in the first quarter. The rest of the team followed in his footsteps afterward, as Brooklyn got the lead and never looked back.
On the other side, Los Angeles had Anthony Davis getting a superb 26-point and 12-rebound double-double, but it was not enough. The rest of the Lakers, aside from LeBron James and D'Angelo Russell, struggled to shoot. Austin Reaves was kept quiet, scoring only nine points on 4-of-12 shooting.
The Nets can build on this win
Brooklyn just ended their losing streak with a much-needed result for the team. They can use this as a foundation for the second half of the season, as the Nets still want to make the NBA Playoffs.
The Nets played with good energy for most of the game, especially when Dennis Smith Jr. was on the floor. Brooklyn needs to keep playing that way because that was the key to success early in the season.
With the Los Angeles Clippers next up, that will be another tough challenge, but this performance proved the Nets can keep getting big wins against the NBA's top teams.
