The youngsters had it in their grasp, only to watch it slip away. What seemed like a promising start to the All-Star weekend ended up as a stark lesson in the challenges faced by a developing team still mastering the art of closing out games.
On Wednesday night at Barclays Center, the Nets suffered a 115-110 defeat against the Indiana Pacers. Despite holding an 18-point advantage in the third quarter, they saw their lead evaporate in the closing moments. This loss broke Brooklyn’s two-game winning streak and left them with a 15-38 record as they approached the break.
“It wasn’t just one player; it was several,” head coach Jordi Fernández commented. “These are aspects we can control, and we fell short. That’s why we lost. We hold ourselves to higher standards, particularly in areas within our control. When you have a chance, you must give it your all and remain focused. Losing three out of four quarters won’t win you many games.”
Even with key players like Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton, and Noah Clowney sidelined, the Nets seemed unlikely to face significant challenges against a Pacers squad missing eight of their own, including Andrew Nembhard, T.J. McConnell, Pascal Siakam, and Aaron Nesmith. Brooklyn had previously defeated Indiana on November 5, and even then, the Pacers were a shadow of their full lineup.
However, the tide turned dramatically as the game progressed.
For much of the evening, the game served as a glimpse into the future of the franchise. Nolan Traore, continuing his impressive form from Monday, started strong with a one-handed skip pass to Egor Dëmin for a three-pointer. This set the tone. Dëmin nailed both of his three-point attempts in the first quarter, while Traore quickly racked up seven points. Drake Powell’s aggressive drives earned him six points from the free-throw line in rapid succession.
Day’Ron Sharpe, making his first start since Jan. 7, scored seven points in his first seven minutes. Ochai Agbaji checked in late in the period for his Nets debut and ultimately gave Brooklyn 16 minutes, six rebounds and two assists. The Nets didn’t shoot it great early, but they defended well enough to build a 31-18 cushion after one.
Traore kept bending the game from there. He got into the paint. He sprayed the ball to shooters. He rose into jumpers with a confidence that keeps growing. Danny Wolf delivered seven points in eight second-quarter minutes. Ben Saraf supplied the highlight of the half, hammering a left-handed dunk over Micah Potter that pushed the lead to 43-30.
Indiana found life offensively in the period and shot 52%, but Brooklyn stacked advantages elsewhere. Nine trey to the Pacers’ seven. Eleven free throws made while Indiana had taken only six. Traore’s second triple beat the horn and sent the Nets to halftime up 11. He had 14 by then, his most in a first half this season, and the youth movement was everywhere. Traore, Dëmin, Wolf, Powell and Saraf combined for 43 of Brooklyn’s 64 points in the opening 24 minutes.
It felt sustainable, until it wasn’t.
Both teams shot better than 50% in the third, but the Nets started handing the Pacers extra possessions. Ten turnovers. Fourteen Indiana points off them. After committing just four in the first half, the sloppiness cracked the door open for a Pacers rally.
“It was more of us than them,” Traore said.
Ziaire Williams poured in 14 points in the quarter, going 5-for-6 and 4-for-5 from deep, while no other Net had more than four. What had been an 18-point advantage shrank possession by possession, the Pacers ripping off a 20-8 push to make it a six-point game heading to the fourth.
By the time the clock dipped under nine minutes, it was tied at 97. A minute later, Indiana had its first lead since the opening bucket. Traore tried to pull it back. Two tough floaters on consecutive trips. A kick-out to Dëmin for three that nudged Brooklyn in front. And after a late turnover, Sharpe ripped a steal and finished to tie it at 110 with 38.3 seconds remaining.
Still, it wasn’t enough.
Kam Jones drilled a 3-pointer with 16.8 seconds left. Dëmin had a clean look on the next possession and couldn’t get it to fall. Potter handled the rest at the line.
“I thought it was an amazing play,” Dëmin said. “Knowing their coverage, I knew it would be a good shot for me unless they changed something. I’m really upset it didn’t go in, but I’ve got to move on. I’ll probably sit with it a little over the break but then think about the next games.”
Traore finished with 20 points and eight assists. Dëmin had 13, five and five. Wolf added 14 points and eight boards. Saraf chipped in 12, four and two. It marked the first time Traore and Dëmin each recorded at least five assists in the same game, the sixth time they’ve started together.
Jarace Walker led Indiana with 23 points.
Dëmin now heads to Los Angeles as Brooklyn’s lone participant in All-Star weekend after being named to the Castrol Rising Stars roster. The Nets resume play Feb. 19 in Cleveland.
