Inside The Nets

Brooklyn pulls off the upset by beating the Cleveland Cavaliers

The Nets showed they could still compete with some of the best teams in the league by pulling off an upset against Cleveland.

Peter Sunjic

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After losing to the Hornets on the first leg of the back-to-back, Brooklyn trounced the Cleveland Cavaliers. The first half was close between the two teams, as the Nets had a slim one-point lead at halftime. It looked like Coach Kevin Ollie’s halftime speech worked, as Brooklyn scored 44 points in the third quarter and cruised to a 120 to 101 win.

Cameron Thomas led Brooklyn to the win by scoring 29 points, and his running mate Mikal Bridges bounced back from his slump by scoring 25. Georges Niang’s 20 points led the shorthanded Cavs as the Nets defended well, limiting Coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s team to only 101 points.

“We were the underdogs coming in here. I just told them nobody thought we were gonna win this game, especially with the back-to-back,” Ollie said after the upset win against Cleveland. “But they believed, they communicated, and they stayed in as a pack… They put it all together tonight, which was great to see.”

A great result for Brooklyn

The Nets needed this win, especially after the losses to Memphis and Detroit. Losing to teams like those will not get Brooklyn a spot in the Play-In Tournament, so getting this result against the Cavs is a big deal.

It was a good game for Coach Ollie, as his team looked loose in the third half. The players looked confident, as both Cam Thomas and Dennis Schroder hit near-half-court three-pointers to cement the Nets as the dominant force for this game.

Aside from the win, Play-In rivals Atlanta lost in their recent game, which closes the gap to 3.5 games. It’s still a long way to go for the Nets, but there is still a chance for them to keep winning and catching up to the Hawks.

Momentum is brewing for Brooklyn

The losses to the Grizzlies, Pistons, and Hornets were disheartening for the Nets. However, this win against Cleveland can set the tone for the rest of the season, as beating them proves Brooklyn can keep up with the best teams.

Granted, the Cavs did not have Donovan Mitchell and Evan Mobley, but limiting Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen to 29 points is a sign that Brooklyn can reach this level. However, they must be consistent with this performance to make it to the Play-In spots.

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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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