The Brooklyn Nets faced a tough contest against the Cleveland Cavaliers. It would take a hot three-point shooting night and tough defense for the Nets to take down the Cavaliers.
And while the Brooklyn Nets came out shooting, and held LeBron James to 10 points through three quarters, it was not enough. James, who scored 23 of his 33 points in the fourth quarter, led a late charge to take the Nets out, 119-109.
The Nets came out swinging, almost literally. While the game was not as physical as some others, Tyler Zeller headbutted James. The King left to go to the locker room with a gash next to his mustache. He came back in the fourth and scored 18 straight points, bullying Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Allen Crabbe and DeMarre Carroll in the paint.
Although the Nets, especially Crabbe, sagged off on defense, they were almost brilliant offensively. Their ball movement was beautiful, looking for open shooters and looks in the paint often.
Just take a look at three point maestro Joe Harris’s stat line. The shooting guard had 18 points on 7-of-10 shooting, four of which were from three-point range. Harris showed off some of his craftiness in the fourth quarter, cutting through the paint for an easy layup to tie the game at 99.
But it was not just the Joe Harris game. While Harris was firing on all cylinders from three, Hollis-Jefferson was an absolute monster in the paint. In the fourth, he challenged Jeff Green, driving past the larger forward. The layup went in as Green fouled the Hyphen. Hollis-Jefferson sunk the free throw to diminish the Cavs lead to just 95-94.
Hollis-Jefferson’s impact was also felt through other aspects of the game. On top of his 20 points, he grabbed six rebounds and dished out two assists.
However, the big men stole the show with their range. Zeller converted his first three-point field goal ever. He finished with seven points and seven boards.
This is Tyler Zeller's first ever three. Not just in a Nets uniform, but ever
— Kunal Kohli (@TheKunalKohli) November 23, 2017
While Zeller hit a three, Jarrett Allen hit a long two from just inside three point range. He also gave Kevin Love some Thanksgiving stuffing, blocking his hook shot in the third.
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While the Nets lost, they showed that they could hang with one of the best teams in the East. They will have to prove that they can build on that when they play the Trail Blazers on Friday.