Upcoming Games
Tomorrow vs Cavaliers: Coverage on YES & the YES App begins at 6:30 p.m.
Saturday vs Spurs: Coverage on YES & the YES App begins at 5:30 p.m.
Tuesday, February 13 vs Celtics: Coverage on YES & the YES App begins at 6:30 p.m.
Tipping Off
With the trade deadline set for tomorrow at 3 p.m., the Nets are two games behind Atlanta for the final spot in the Eastern Conference play-in tournament that will determine the East’s final two postseason entrants. Brooklyn has split its last six games, with Ben Simmons powering the team to a couple of wins in that span. He helped make their efforts on Jan. 29 against Utah and Saturday in Philadelphia the Nets’ two highest-scoring regulation games this season. Those victories also featured Brooklyn’s two largest assist totals of the year.
Nets Notes
Prior to missing Tuesday’s game versus Dallas with left adductor tightness, Cam Johnson had been hot over his previous four, averaging 15.3 PPG on 51.2 percent field-goal shooting and 42.3 percent shooting from long range. Simmons’ plus-minus rating in the wins against the Jazz and Sixers was a combined plus-34, as he tallied 17 rebounds and 16 assists across those games. Mikal Bridges hit five shots from beyond the arc in Philly, capping a three-game stretch in which he connected on 17 three-pointers, and by hitting at least five in three consecutive games he came one game shy of the longest streak in franchise history, a mark shared by Allen Crabbe and Kyrie Irving. Nic Claxton took advantage of Joel Embiid’s absence in that Sixers game and pulled in 15 rebounds, hitting that number for the fifth time this year. Claxton also logged a career-high seven blocks Monday against Golden State. Jalen Wilson fared well against the Mavericks last night, scoring ten points in a little less than 18 minutes on the court.
Know The Foes
Cleveland has won 14 of its last 15 games including its matchup against the Nets in Paris last month when Donovan Mitchell, who has made his fifth straight All-Star Game this year, established his season high with 45 points including 21 in the fourth quarter. The Cavaliers recently got Evan Mobley back after he missed close to two months due to a left knee injury that required surgery, plus a couple of old friends are doing well for the Cavs - together, ex-Nets Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert are averaging 30.9 PPG for a 32-16 squad that is second place in the East behind Boston. Saturday will be the Nets’ first opportunity to see 7’4 Victor Wembanyama up close; San Antonio’s 20-year-old phenom is averaging 20.4 PPG and 10.3 RPG while leading the NBA in blocks with 138. The 38-12 Celtics lead the East and have a three-and-a-half game edge over several Western teams for best record overall. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have earned All-Star nods this season, with Tatum being voted to start and Brown being selected as a reserve. It’s the fifth consecutive All-Star selection for Tatum while Brown has been chosen for the third time in his career.
A Dazzling Fact
You never want to take your eyes off Cam Thomas when he’s on the court. The dynamic young scorer put up 40 points on the nose Saturday, giving him his third 40-point game of the season and the seventh of his career. He’s already in the top five when it comes to 40-point efforts in Nets franchise history, plus he’s only one way from tying the legend in fourth place, John Williamson. The top three are YES’ own Vince Carter (17), Kyrie Irving (14) and Kevin Durant (10). Thomas’ performance versus the Sixers also finished a five-game run in which he averaged 30.4 PPG on 53.7 percent shooting from the floor. Stay with YES and the YES App to make sure you don’t miss any of Thomas’ big performances over the rest of the season!
