The Brooklyn Nets (0-5) had another chance of earning their first win at home after a short road trip to Texas that did not inspire much confidence in the team. Brooklyn is going to be dealing with some tough challenges all season and Trae Young and the Atlanta Hawks (2-3) were the latest team on the list for the Nets to have to step their game up against.
The Nets lost to the Hawks 117-112 on Wednesday in a game that was back-and-forth in the first half before the game became much closer in the second half. Forward Michael Porter Jr. led the way for Brooklyn with 32 points and nine rebounds while Cam Thomas had 19 points and three assists during a game that was a struggle for him in terms of his overall shooting.
Despite the fact that the Hawks lost Young in the first half due to a right knee sprain, Atlanta found a way to win this game thanks to the efforts of players like Jalen Johnson, who had 23 points and seven rebounds. Brooklyn played a much better game in this one than they did at any point prior to Wednesday so here are three takeaways from Wednesday’s loss to the Hawks:
Michael Porter Jr. Carries The Offense
In a game where Cam Thomas struggled to get anything going against Nickeil Alexander-Walker and the rest of the Hawks defense, Porter stepped up in a huge way to give the Nets a chance of winning the game. Porter put up 32 points, nine rebounds, and two assists while shooting 12-of-20 from the field and 4-of-9 from three-point land in what has been the most competitive game that Brooklyn has played so far this season.
Nic Claxton Gives Maximum Effort
Claxton has been one of the most interesting players for the Nets over the past few seasons given that there seems to be significant difference between the games when he’s locked in and when his effort waxes and wanes over the course of a single game. Against the Hawks, Claxton showed how effective he can be when he is giving his best effort and concentration for four quarters as proven by his 18 points, 12 rebounds, and one block.
Tyrese Martin Sees PG Minutes To Close
While the Nets are understandably focused on developing the five rookies that they selected from the 2025 NBA Draft, it’s clear that head coach Jordi Fernandez wants more experience coming down the stretch of tough games. Ben Saraf and Egor Demin each played less minutes than Tyrese Martin, who seems to be the most experienced ball-handler on the roster after Cam Thomas. Martin also played well during his time on the floor as he dropped 13 points and five rebounds in just 20 minutes.