The Nets snapped their longest losing skid of the season with their biggest rout of the year.
Brooklyn earned a wire-to-wire 104-83 road win against fellow lottery hopeful Charlotte. They snapped out of a seven-game funk by smothering the shorthanded Hornets, leading by as many as 24 points and never trailing.
It marked the Nets’ biggest margin of victory since Feb. 29, 2024, when they routed Atlanta 124-97. Most of the Nets’ dominance on Wednesday came on the defensive end, their 33.7 percent shooting allowed a season-low and their 83 points conceded their fewest since March 11, 2019 vs. Detroit.
Nic Claxton blocks Taj Gibson’s shot during the Nets’ 104-83 win over the Hornets on Jan. 29, 2025. USA TODAY Sports via Reuters Con
“I think defensively we were very physical and we looked very connected,” coach Jordi Fernandez said. “The guys did a great job talking to each other so the energy was there for 48 minutes.”
The Nets notched 11 steals, outscored the Hornets 24-7 off turnovers and allowed just 10-for-35 shooting from deep. And in the end, they won for the first time since Jan. 14 — against another fellow lottery hopeful Portland.
“Much-needed reward. These guys are in the gym every day working, so it was well deserved. The guys played hard,” Ben Simmons said. “I think it was just the mindset of being consistent for all four quarters. Defensively, offensively, sticking with it.”
The Nets (15-33) are fifth in the lottery standings. They’re now a full game behind Charlotte and half a game ahead of sixth-place Toronto.
Keon Johnson, who scored 18 points, shoots a jumper during the Nets’ win over Hornets. AP
Nic Claxton led the way with 12 points, eight rebounds and six blocks, one shy of his career high. Keon Johnson had 18 points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals, while Tosan Evbuomwan scored 14 and finished a game-high plus-22.
Charlotte was without seven of its top eight scorers, including LaMelo Ball (ankle). But Brooklyn — playing without Cam Thomas and Cam Johnson — won’t care.
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Miles Bridges scored a game-high 23. But the Nets cruised from start to finish.
Simmons had 10 points and six assists in his return after missing the past five games. Meanwhile, Trendon Watford had nine points in 18 minutes after being out since Dec. 16 with a hamstring injury.
“It was good. I’m just glad to be back out there with the guys, back playing basketball,” Watford said. “Missing 21 games, I’ve been missing it ever since I left the game in Cleveland. It was great to be back, and now I’m just glad I can keep going and put this hamstring behind me.”
The only negative was Day’Ron Sharpe being forced out of the game with five points and six boards due to left hamstring tightness. He’d missed the first six weeks of the season with a left hamstring strain.
“He told me that he felt his hamstring. And obviously we want to be cautious because we’re down bodies, and that’s the last thing we need is to lose another one,” Fernandez said. “So we’ll assess him and we’ll see. But we hope that it’s minor.”