© Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports
Nic Claxton's Stellar Return Powers Brooklyn Nets Past Washington Wizards
The Brooklyn Nets are back to their winning ways as they returned to a .500 record by beating the Washington Wizards, 102-94. They were coming off a big loss to the Boston Celtics but with the return of starting center Nic Claxton, the Nets are off to a hot start.
The Nets big man had a strong return scoring 10 points, grabbing 13 rebounds, and blocking four shots. It was a fantastic return performance for Clax as the team needed a rim protector, and an elite rebounder after running a small-ball lineup since he got injured.
“For our group to stay together through this, still trying to find an identity on both ends of the floor, I give them a lot of credit for standing together,” Coach Jacque Vaughn said in his post-game presser. “Even tonight, it’s the perfect example where we could split apart and not win this basketball game, somehow we figured out to stick together, make plays at the end of the game. Trust that we’re a good enough team to get it done. The team is growing.”
A strong night on the boards
The rebounding battle was a big deal for the Nets as they utterly dominated the in the Wizards 66 to 42. Clax was huge on the boards, and Mikal Bridges stepped up with 13 rebounds of his own.
From the reserve, Day’Ron Sharpe secured an impressive 12 rebounds, contributing to the Nets' dominance in the paint against the Wizards, especially with Daniel Gafford being the sole legitimate center in action for the opposing team.
The offensive rebound discrepancy was stark as the Nets grabbed 20 while the Wizards only got seven. That helped the Nets dominate the paint and get 21 second-chance points.
Coach Jacque Vaughn is pleased with this performance, emphasizing that controlling the boards not only strengthens their presence in transition but also sets the stage for even greater effectiveness when Ben Simmons, another elite rebounder, makes his return to the lineup.
Mikal Bridges had a strong performance
Despite Mikal's dissatisfaction with his shooting efficiency, he delivered a stellar performance by contributing 27 points and securing 13 rebounds. With Cameron Thomas sidelined, Mikal faced heightened expectations to contribute to the scoring. Although there's room for improvement in efficiency, he took on the leadership role for the Nets.
The Nets will look to keep this momentum up with their next game against the Orlando Magic, Coincidentally, that is also an In-Season Tournament game and it will be played at home at the Barclays Center on Tuesday, November 14.
