From battered in their season opener to better in their home opener. 

But the end result was still the same for the Nets. 

After embarrassing themselves Wednesday in Charlotte, coach Jordi Fernández challenged his players to handle adversity and his scorers Cam Thomas and Michael Porter Jr. to give more on both ends. He got all that and it still wasn’t enough. 

A late Nets rally fell short in a 131-124 loss to Cleveland before 17,548 at Barclays Center. 

“It’s got to matter to compete, and still, you have to be mad that you didn’t win. When we played the first game and didn’t give ourselves a chance, it was even worse because you didn’t fight how you’re supposed to,” said Fernández. “To win consistently, you have to be competitive first and go and fight for everything. These experiences [help].” 

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) drives around Cleveland Cavaliers guard Sam Merrill (5) in the first half at Barclays Center, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

A fourth-quarter fight back couldn’t overcome three quarters of shoddy defense — or a staggering 35-7 free-throw disparity. 

The Nets cut a 25-point deficit in the third to just one in the fourth, holding the Cavs to 5-of-19 in the final period. But they couldn’t get over the hump. 

After Thomas and Porter combined for a minus-38 and desultory defense in the opener, they were vastly improved Friday. Thomas had 33 points and nine assists, while Porter finished with 31 points on 5-of-10 from deep with eight rebounds. 

Cleveland Cavaliers guard Donovan Mitchell (45) drives around Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) in the first half. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Ziaire Williams had 11 of his 25 in the fourth quarter, when the Nets outscored the Cavaliers 38-23 in a spirited rally. Rookie Egor Dëmin had all nine of his points in the fourth, and his 3 pulled them within 121-120, but they got no closer. 

“We just tried to bounce back after a tough loss, season opener,” said Williams. “We just wanted to give ourselves a chance to win. We kept telling each other ‘cut it to 15, cut it to ten, cut it five.’ We came up short.” 

It was, frankly, exactly the kind of game much of their fan base would want. Competitive. Exciting. And in the end, one step closer to the all-important lottery. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Egor Demin (8) drives into Cleveland Cavaliers guard Craig Porter Jr. (9). Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

After suffering a humbling 136-117 season-opening loss at Charlotte, the Nets (0-2) showed more fight against a Cleveland team that had the best record in the East last season. 

Brooklyn was down 83-58 with 8:14 left in the third quarter after a 26-footer from Donovan Mitchell, who had a game-high 35 points. 

They were still trailing 110-88 after a Mitchell hook a half-minute into the fourth when they went on a 23-8 run. 

Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez reacts in the first half against the Cleveland Cavaliers at Barclays Center. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

“Obviously the situation when you’re losing by 20…you can’t really just sit back and let it go,” said Dëmin. “For us, it was really important to switch, get that click that was going to get us into a more aggressive flow.” 

Dëmin started the spurt with a 3-pointer off a feed from Porter, and stepped into another on a kickout from Nic Claxton to get the Nets within one with 3:48 left. 

But they got no closer. 

A floater by ex-Net Jarrett Allen — who had 22 points and six rebounds against his old team — stemmed the tide, and the Nets could never regain the momentum. 

Brooklyn Nets guard Cam Thomas (24) shoots a 3-point shot defended by Cleveland Cavaliers center Jarrett Allen (31) in the second half at Barclays Center, Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, in Brooklyn, NY. Corey Sipkin for the NY POST

Williams thought he was fouled on a late attempt from deep, but the Nets had to settle for a tough no-call. It wasn’t the only one. 

“I was told they missed it. Time and time again it’s always I missed it, I missed it,” said Williams. “I know the refs are human, but at the end of the day I just want reciprocated energy. They called a 3-point foul on me, which was a foul, and I thought my shot was a foul, too. They said they didn’t see it, they missed it. They definitely missed it. We can’t blame the game on just that one play. But seven free throws to 35, that speaks for itself. They weren’t really locked in.”