Inside The Nets

The Nets escape with a second-straight win against the Pistons

A nail-biting second half led to the Nets escaping with a win over the Pistons.
Peter Sunjic|
© Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

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Brooklyn NetsDetroit Pistons

After winning the first matchup against the Detroit Pistons just a few days earlier, the Nets came to the Motor City with a target on their backs. Monty Williams and his team wanted to get their win after 26 straight losses. They failed to avoid the streak as Brooklyn won the game 118-112.

Cameron Johnson led the Nets with 24 points, while Mikal Bridges chipped in with 21 points of his own. The big man duo of Nic Claxton and Day'Ron Sharpe had 11 points and 11 rebounds apiece, cementing their place as one of the NBA's best partnerships.

"I didn't sleep very well last night anticipating how tough this game would be," Vaughn said in his interview after the win. "It was gonna be a tall task for us. Any time you're playing a team back-to-back like that, really tough to do. Knowing that both teams are searching for a win. I give our guys an extreme amount of credit to persevere throughout the night."

A shaky game for the Nets

While this was a win for Brooklyn, there was some shakiness to their performance. Mikal had 21 points and a decent stat line, but there were some questionable moments he had to work on. Spencer Dinwiddie struggled with shooting as he only made 2-of-11 attempts.

Cameron Thomas did not have enough minutes to contribute even though he had a great offensive performance in his 22 minutes. He scored 16 points with good efficiency, but the coaching staff opted to have Dinwiddie and Smith in the game.

The team has to work on being more consistent, especially in the second half, because they could've put their opponents away earlier.

Detroit is improving

On the other end, the Pistons did their best to keep this game close and possibly win it by the end. Cade Cunningham was the star for Detroit as he scored a game-high 41 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out five assists. It was a stellar performance from the former number-one overall pick, but it was not enough.

Bogdan Bogdanovic chipped in with 23 points, while Jalen Duren made his return to the lineup with a huge double-double of 12 points and 15 rebounds. While the young Pistons' squad shows improvement, they find themselves amidst the most extensive losing streak in NBA history.

It wasn't their day, as coach Jacque Vaughn's team achieved victory. Now, the Nets move on to the second night of a back-to-back as they have to play against the Milwaukee Bucks at Barclays Center.

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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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