Inside The Nets

Nets falter late vs. Timberwolves, Ben Simmons suffers leg injury

The Nets fell to 21-35 on the season.

Peter Sunjic

© Matt Krohn-USA TODAY Sports
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The Brooklyn Nets kept it close for most of the game and were only down by four points heading into the final 12 minutes. Unfortunately, the Minnesota Timberwolves pulled away in the fourth quarter, winning the game 101-86 to give Brooklyn the second consecutive loss in the Kevin Ollie era.

Cameron Thomas led the Nets with 18 points, and Mikal Bridges chipped in with 15 of his own. However, the two struggled from the field, with Cam shooting 7 of 18 and Mikal going 7 of 19. from the field The Timberwolves got solid performances from their stars, as Karl Anthony-Towns and Anthony Edwards combined for 57 points.

“Yes, they were making shots, and we weren’t. It just comes to that sometimes, we beat them on the boards, we were physical all game, we hunted. I thought we did a great job at coming together as a team and facing adversity throughout the game,” Ollie said in his post-game interview. 

“We gotta make shots, 6 for 36 is going to beat you every time, and we had great looks. I just told them to keep believing when we get those looks in the next few games, we’ll win," he added.

The Nets are struggling on offense

Brooklyn averaged 89.5 points in the team's first two games under Ollie. Both performances have shown the interim coach has some work to do, especially with his rotations, to maximize the team's scoring.

The Nets lack size and struggle with their three-point shooting. That's the area they need to improve the most if they want to secure a playoff spot, as they currently sit 11th in the Eastern Conference with a 21-35 record.

Simmons injury

The Nets suffered another big blow as Ben Simmons left the game due to left leg soreness. After playing 15 minutes, the team ruled Ben out for the rest of the contest. 

The Aussie guard will travel with the team to Memphis for a matchup against the Grizzlies. His availability, however, is still uncertain. 

Brooklyn Nets' future plans: Mikal Bridges as a complementary piece

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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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