The Nets’ three-game winning streak came to an end Monday night at Barclays Center, as they fell to the Golden State Warriors 120-107 in a game that remained within reach until the final minutes, dropping them to 10-20 on the season.
Michael Porter Jr. finished with 27 points, nine rebounds and five assists, continuing to build his case for an All-Star nod. Cam Thomas led the bench with 13 points on 5-for-12 shooting in 19 minutes in his second game back from injury, while rookie Egor Demin scored 23 points and knocked down a career-high seven 3-pointers to break the Nets’ single-game rookie record from deep.
Stephen Curry (27) and Jimmy Butler (21) poured in 48 combined points in the Warriors’ 17th win of the season.
“We competed, but as a group, we just weren’t as good as we’ve been lately,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernández said.
Head coach Steve Kerr said pregame that Golden State planned to reach deeper into its bench and manage the minutes of Curry, Butler and Draymond Green after an overtime loss to the Toronto Raptors the night before. Whether by design or fatigue, the Warriors struggled to match Brooklyn’s early energy.
The Nets jumped on Golden State from the opening tip, playing with urgency and physicality while the Warriors looked slow to settle into the second night of a back-to-back. Porter scored eight early points and Demin added six. At the other end, the Nets held Golden State to 2-for-9 shooting in the opening minutes. Porter capped the surge with a transition dunk that pushed Brooklyn ahead 18-8 with 7:32 left in the first quarter, forcing Kerr to burn an early timeout.
Brooklyn loosened its grip defensively once the bench rotation began to turn, starting with Thomas checking in at the 5:11 mark, but the Nets still carried a 30-28 lead into the second quarter. Golden State shot 45% in the opening frame, with Curry held to 1-for-4 shooting, though the Warriors closed the quarter on a 13-2 run.
Curry’s quiet start didn’t last. The four-time NBA champion found his rhythm in the second quarter, scoring eight points and knocking down a pair of 3-pointers as Golden State shot 54.5% in the period and edged Brooklyn 31-27. Porter answered on the other end, pouring in seven points of his own and reaching 17 points in his first 16 minutes of action. The Nets continued to execute offensively despite the Warriors’ surge, and Thomas chipped in five off the bench to keep Brooklyn within striking distance heading into halftime.
The back-and-forth nature of the game was reflected on the scoreboard. The teams combined for 13 lead changes and eight ties in the first half, with Brooklyn building a lead as large as 13 before Golden State responded. By the break, neither side had been able to fully seize control, setting the stage for a tightly contested second half.
The third quarter unfolded as a tug-of-war, with neither side able to seize control for long. Brooklyn briefly grabbed momentum behind its young legs and activity, opening the half with strong defensive possessions and timely shot-making.
But every Nets push met a response. Curry continued to steady the Warriors with shot-making and playmaking, while Butler began to impose himself physically, especially when guarded by rookie Danny Wolf. He scored inside, drew fouls and converted enough at the stripe to tilt the balance, while Brandin Podziemski and Gary Payton II helped extend possessions. By the time the horn sounded, the Warriors had nudged ahead 89-85, having survived Brooklyn’s bursts and turned a frenetic, evenly played quarter into a narrow edge entering the fourth.
It was all Warriors down the stretch, as Brooklyn shot just 31.6%, committed five turnovers and was outscored 31-22, with Porter and Thomas combining to go 0-for-3 in the quarter. Golden State also won the battle in the paint 56-30, and its bench accounted for 58 points.
Still, Brooklyn pushed one of the league’s most experienced teams deep into the game, continuing a stretch of play that has reflected real growth beyond the standings.
The Nets will open the new year Thursday with a home game against the Houston Rockets.
