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Key takeaways from the Nets' streak-busting win over the Pistons
After a five-game losing streak, the Brooklyn Nets have emerged victorious 126-115 against the Detroit Pistons. This was a matchup of two teams with contrasting losing streaks, but only one could emerge victorious.
The Nets wanted to prove a point with this game, especially in the first quarter when they got off to a strong start. This was a decisive performance for Brooklyn as they were motivated to finally end the streak and not lose to the team with the league's worst record. With this kind of triumph, there are some key takeaways for Jacque Vaughn's squad.
Mikal is finally back to his usual form
This was a return to form for Mikal Bridges, as he scored 29 points, grabbed six rebounds, and dished out seven assists. It was one of his best games of the season, which had been a long time coming, considering that he had struggled during the recent losing streak.
He was hitting from all over the court as he went 9-for-17 from the field while consistently getting to the free-throw line, where he made all ten shots. It was a well-rounded performance, which is a fantastic result for him after a disappointing week.
The Nets are improving with solid starts
The trend for almost the entire 2023/24 season has been the Nets' struggles with starting the game strong. They have fallen into deep holes they've struggled to get out of, but in this game and the previous matchup with the Denver Nuggets, Brooklyn has significantly improved.
A big part of this start was Mikal scoring 19 points in the first half. He played with solid aggression while also helping maximize his teammates with superb playmaking and creating space for spot-up jump shots.
Brooklyn is building confidence
Dating back to their previous loss to the Nuggets, the Nets have continued to build enough confidence. They kept up with the defending champions until the game's final minute, and now, they are blowing out the Pistons. It might've been against the worst team in the league record-wise, but there are some promising developments from this game.
Coach Vaughn can be glad that Mikal, Dorian Finney-Smith, and many more are firing again as Brooklyn looks to get back and even exceed a .500 record. They will now play a second game against the Pistons on December 26th at Little Caesars Arena in the Motor City.
