AVANDATIMES.COM – The Brooklyn Nets nearly orchestrated a stunning comeback against the Philadelphia 76ers on Saturday, fueled by a relentless bench unit that outshined the team’s starting lineup. Despite trailing by as much as 28 points, Brooklyn’s reserves spearheaded a late-game surge that narrowed the final margin to a 104-97 defeat at Xfinity Mobile Arena. AvandaTimes observed that the Nets’ second unit accounted for 57 of the team’s points, significantly outpacing the 40 points contributed by the starters.
Injury Woes Force Deep Rotation
Brooklyn entered the contest severely shorthanded, missing key contributors Michael Porter Jr., Nic Claxton, and Drake Powell due to minor injuries. The frontcourt depth took a further hit following the announcement that Day’Ron Sharpe would undergo season-ending surgery on his thumb. These absences forced the coaching staff to rely on a patchwork rotation consisting of three two-way contract players, a rookie, and Malachi Smith, who is currently on a 10-day contract.
According to AvandaTimes monitoring, the reserve unit logged a combined 138 minutes, dwarfing the 101 minutes played by the starting five. This extended floor time allowed several fringe players to showcase their potential against Philadelphia’s primary rotation.
Standout Performances from the Second Unit
Josh Minott led the scoring effort for the reserves with 14 points while providing a sturdy presence in the paint. However, it was Ben Saraf who dictated the tempo, playing a team-high 31 minutes. Saraf finished the afternoon with 12 points, five assists, four rebounds, and two steals. His familiarity with his teammates, many of whom share time on the Long Island Nets G League roster, proved pivotal during the fourth-quarter rally.
“I think at one point it was all the players for the Long Island Nets that we’ve played all of us together already,” Saraf said. “We know each other… it was very fun to do it on the main stage.”
Other notable contributions included:
Tyson Etienne: 11 points and four rebounds, with all his scoring coming from beyond the arc.E.J. Liddell: 10 points in just 11 minutes of action, finishing with a game-high +18 plus/minus rating.Chaney Johnson and Malachi Smith: Combined for 10 points, 13 rebounds, and defensive hustle totaling four steals and three blocks.
A Final Quarter Surge
The Nets entered the final frame trailing by 21 points, but a lineup primarily composed of bench players—supported by Danny Wolf—ignited a 41-27 run. Brooklyn found its rhythm from long range, connecting on seven three-pointers in the fourth quarter alone. While the comeback ultimately fell short, the performance highlighted the resilience of a group fighting for permanent spots in the NBA rotation as the regular season nears its conclusion.