Nets make statement; stun reigning Eastern Conference Champs
By Zak Musso
How about those Brooklyn Nets? Brooklyn went down to South Beach last night and toppled the reigning Eastern Conference Champions, the Miami Heat, 109-105. Brooklyn’s win in Miami was as gritty as they come and a complete team effort.
Brooklyn was without three starters, Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton, and Cam Johnson, but that did not matter. Brooklyn was down 15 points in the second half, but that did not matter. How were they able to win? Because they have Mikal Bridges and one of the deepest rosters in basketball.
Bridges led the Nets with 21 points on Wednesday night, but the real star of the game was not Bridges; it was recent call-up Armoni Brooks.
Brooks, who is on a two-contract, was called up from the G-League Long Island Nets on Tuesday to fill the void the injured Nets left. Backup point guard Dennis Smith Jr. (hip contusion) also missed last night’s game.
Jacque Vaughn could not have possibly wanted any more for the young guard. Brooks dropped 17 points in 16 minutes and shot 6-7 from the field, which included 5-6 shooting from behind the three-point arc.
A stunning performance
Nets unsung hero, Armoni Brooks, led Brooklyn to a massive victory
Scoring more points than the number of minutes you played in an NBA game is insane, but the wildest thing Brooks did tonight was post a +30 plus/minus.
Armoni Brooks said one of the Nets assistant coaches came up to him to tell him he was +30 tonight:
— Erik Slater (@erikslater_) November 2, 2023
“One of the assistant coaches came up to me and was like, ‘Bro you were a plus 30!’ I was like, ‘Wow, that’s pretty crazy. In 16 minutes, which is even crazier.’” pic.twitter.com/1OrhjxKaRw
Brooklyn’s bench was dominant on Wednesday night
Brooks was the Nets’ star of the game, but the rest of Brooklyn’s bench deserves their flowers. Lonnie Walker dropped 17 points, Trendon Watford dropped 11 in 14 minutes in his Brooklyn debut, while Day’Ron Sharpe posted a +15.
How on earth was Brooklyn able to sign Walker to a veteran minimum? That might be Brooklyn’s best offseason move. Over his last three games, Walker is averaging 16.5 points per game on 47% shooting and has posted a +34.
When do the Nets play again?
Brooklyn will be in Chicago to play the Bulls on Friday night. The Nets-Bulls contest is not just a typical regular season game; it is both squads’ first in-season tournament game. Stay tuned to Nothin’ But Nets for more on the NBA’s inaugural in-season tournament.
