Brooklyn Nets Roll Out Seventh Starting Lineup of the Season in Huge Win vs. Warriors

The Nets fought back from an 18-point deficit to defeat the Golden State Warriors in what Jordi Fernández called a “complete team effort.”

Nov 25, 2024; San Francisco, California, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (1) takes a three-point shot over Golden State Warriors forward Kevon Looney (5) during the first half at Chase Center. Mandatory Credit: John Hefti-Imagn Images / John Hefti-Imagn Images

The Brooklyn Nets rolled out their seventh starting lineup of the season in Monday’s nail-biting 128-120 win against the Golden State Warriors, with Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Jalen Wilson, Cam Johnson and Ziaire Williams making up the team’s first five. 

The changes to the Nets’ starters and rotation were spurred by widespread absences in the frontcourt, notably: Nic Claxton (lower back soreness), Noah Clowney (left ankle sprain), Dorian Finney-Smith (left ankle sprain) and Ben Simmons (lower back injury management). Day’Ron Sharpe (left hamstring strain) is yet to play this season. Fortunately for Brooklyn, Trendon Watford (left hamstring injury recovery) was upgraded from probable to available one hour before tip-off.

Ziaire Williams was the team’s tallest starter at 6-foot-9, although that was also the case for the Warriors with Trayce Jackson-Davis being Golden State's big. The Warriors’ 5-man is naturally a center, though, while Williams is a wing who had to play out of position. 

However, he didn’t shy away from the task, having arguably his best game of the season and contributing his second career double-double. In his fourth start as a Net, Williams finished with 19 points and 10 rebounds, plus four assists and two steals.

Ziaire Williams finishes the lob from Dennis Schröder 😎

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Wilson, who added a season-high 18 points, was the team’s other non-usual starter. He played 41 minutes on the second leg of Brooklyn’s west coast back-to-back. Schröder and the two Cams have started for Brooklyn when available. After the game, head coach Jordi Fernández was full of praise for the shorthanded Nets.

The team’s closing lineup of Wilson, Williams, Schröder, Trendon Watford and Keon Johnson was “amazing,” Tyrese Martin, a two-way player who isn’t usually in Fernández’s rotation, was “ready to contribute” and had an “amazing verticality.” 

Johnson’s defense was pointed out. So was Watford’s 3-point shooting, as his triple with 1:04 remaining in the game arguably clinched the contest for the Nets. Schröder's scoring and leadership were lauded. Williams' "fight" at the center position was deservedly commended.

All of those efforts embodied the "one percent better" approach that Fernández mentioned his undermanned squad would need to make in his pregame comments: “Can your attention be better? Can your box-outs be better? … Try to do it as hard as you can and give yourself a chance.” 

The Nets’ seven different starting lineups this season have been:

• Ben Simmons, Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith
• Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Noah Clowney
• Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith, Nic Claxton
• Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Noah Clowney
• Ben Simmons, Dennis Schröder, Jalen Wilson, Cam Johnson, Dorian Finney-Smith
• Ben Simmons, Cam Thomas, Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams, Nic Claxton
• And now… Dennis Schröder, Cam Thomas, Jalen Wilson, Cam Johnson, Ziaire Williams

The Nets finish their road trip with a Wednesday night game against the Phoenix Suns, although the team's "next man up" resolve might be put to the test with yet another starting lineup. Cam Johnson exited Monday’s game with a right ankle sprain and didn’t return, with an update on his status yet to be provided.

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