Skip to main content

The Nets were fresh off a much-needed win against the Houston Rockets. It was a positive result, but many were unsatisfied because the team almost blew a massive lead. Brooklyn was not having that issue anymore against the Utah Jazz because the Nets had a strong start and never looked back.

Brooklyn built a 43-28 lead after the first quarter, which they maintained for the whole game. Mikal Bridges scored 33 points, and Cameron Thomas chipped in with 25. The duo had superb performances, but the returning Ben Simmons stood out, posting a stat line of ten points, eight rebounds, and 11 assists in limited minutes.

“Other people played so well tonight because of the impact of Ben Simmons. It's that simple. The looks that we got tonight, the amount of threes, the fastbreak points,” Coach Vaughn said about the Nets’ performance. 

“The pace that we played, this has been a team that has been rolling, we talking about 120 points over the last 11 games, so we did it on both ends of the floor. Ben deserves an extreme amount of credit for how he played.”

An impressive performance from the Nets

This game was a well-rounded performance from the Nets, with eight players scoring in double-digits. Brooklyn’s defense was also superb as they limited Utah’s stars Lauri Markkanen and Jordan Clarkson to only 13 points. Keyonte George had a team-high 21 points, but it was not enough to keep them in the game.

Coach Jacque Vaughn should be pleased with how his squad played because it was like the early-season Nets. Ben became the catalyst of a high-octane offense, as he got six assists in the first quarter off the bench.

The Nets can build off this momentum

With this win over the Jazz, the Nets have won back-to-back games. It marks a vital part of the season because Ben is back, and Day’Ron Sharpe's return is imminent. With a healthy team, this Brooklyn roster can compete with any team in the league.

The Nets will be a team to watch because they are back to playing with pace. Combine that with Thomas and Bridges’ natural scoring, Brooklyn will be a tough team to go against. They still have a 19-27 record, but every Eastern Conference team should be wary of Brooklyn, especially when the team continues to build on this kind of performance.