Fresh off a tough loss to the Memphis Grizzlies, the Brooklyn Nets showed grit and determination against the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday to log a 112-107 victory.
It was a win for morale as the implementation of the new system put in by interim coach Kevin Ollie is a work in progress.
In the post-game press conference, Ollie said the team “stood on business,” and dug deep on both sides of the ball for a game that was decided in the final minute.
Yet the tough win was a wash for the Nets, who did not gain any ground in the race for a place in the Play-In Tournament because the Atlanta Hawks also won, remaining 2.5 games ahead of the Nets.
Considering that the crowd at Barclays Center feels more like an Airbnb, with visiting fans the most vocal and demonstrative, Nets players leaned on each other for support and energy. They stuck to the play and effort standards set by Ollie, designed to give the injury-riddled roster a solid opportunity to be victorious in any game.
Nets guard Dennis Smith Jr. set the tone for the game with his tenacious activity on the defensive side. He guarded tight on the perimeter, switched with effort on screens and stayed in the passing lanes.
Forward Dorian Finney-Smith and guard Dennis Schrodër scored a team-high 20 points for the Nets, with Schrodër dishing eight assists and Finney-Smith grabbing eight rebounds.
The game began with a 13-5 run by the 76ers, which forced Ollie to call a timeout at the 8:29 mark of the first quarter as the Barclays latecomers were still trickling into the arena.
Shooting 4-13 on three-point attempts in the first, and ending the first quarter down 30-23, it felt like the Nets were cruising to lose another winnable game.
However, good defensive possessions and increased shooting efficiency got the home team back into the game in the second quarter. The Nets outscored the 76ers 33-27 and went into half-time trailing 56-57.
Reserve guard Lonnie Walker IV scored 11 points in the first half on 3-4 shooting from long distance.
The game was tight through the first three quarters, with the 76ers taking a three-point lead into the fourth quarter with an 83-80 score.
In the final frame, the Nets showed some Brooklyn grit. They outrebounded the 76ers 11-8, with hustle plays and defensive stands led by Smith Jr. and Claxton. Forward Finley-Smith added 12 points and two rebounds off the bench, subbing in at the 11:14 mark of the fourth quarter and putting his stamp on the victory.
Center Nic Claxton caught an assist from Schrodër and finished with an emphatic dunk to give the Nets a two-point lead midway through the fourth quarter. Smith Jr. jumped the passing lane, stole the ball, and drove down the court for a 360-slam dunk, bringing the crowd to its feet with about 4:30 left in the game.
The Nets stayed composed and closed out the game for a feel-good victory as the squad fights for postseason play.
The 76ers were playing without reigning MVP center Joel Embid, who is still recovering from a knee injury. The visitors were also without first-time all-star guard Tyrese Maxey, who sat out the game with a mild concussion. 76ers forward Kelly Oubre scored a season-high 30 points in the loss.
Nets guard Ben Simmons sat out again with a lower back impingement. Guard Cam Thomas and center Day'ron Sharpe also sat out with injuries.
The Nets head out for a six-game road trip starting Thursday against the Detroit Pistons.
