Brooklyn Nets vs. Los Angeles Lakers Takeaways and Player Grades
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) reacts after hitting a three point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
After a tough loss against the Houston Rockets, the Brooklyn Nets returned home to take on the Los Angeles Lakers in Brooklyn.
The Brooklyn Nets, already without Jeremy Lin, got a scare early in the game, when Isaiah Whitehead‘s knee collided with Timofey Mozgov. The brief injury forced Brooklyn to call a timeout, but Whitehead remained in the game.
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The Nets and Lakers got off to an evenly-matched start, as the two teams were tied at 16 with five minutes left in the first quarter. The Lakers ran into some early adversity, when point guard D’Angelo Russell picked up his third personal foul halfway through the first quarter.
The two teams traded runs late in the quarter. An 8-0 Brooklyn run gave the Nets an advantage, but Los Angeles ended the quarter on a 9-0 run, capped off by a buzzer-beater from Jordan Clarkson. The Nets trailed 30-27 at the end of the first quarter.
Brooklyn struggled from beyond the arc in the first half, as the Nets made just one of their first 12 three-point attempts. Despite being cold from the floor, the Nets kept pace with the Lakers thanks to their success at the free throw line. The Nets made 13 of their first 15 free throws, which kept them in the game at a time when the offense struggled.
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The Nets were able to weather the storm until their offense found a rhythm. An 11-4 Nets run gave Brooklyn a 38-37 lead midway through the second quarter as the tables turned.
With Los Angeles suddenly going cold — at one point missing 13 consecutive shots — the Nets were able to build a 49-41 lead. The Nets took a 52-43 lead into halftime after Sean Kilpatrick hit a three-pointer to beat the buzzer. Kilpatrick and Brook Lopez led the Nets with 10 each, while Timofey Mozgov and Jordan Clarkson led the Lakers with eight points apiece.
The third quarter got off to an ugly start. Brooklyn came out of the locker room and didn’t look ready. The offense looked sloppy, and had no rhythm whatsoever. Kenny Atkinson was forced to take a timeout in an effort to regroup.
The Lakers were able to claw their way back into the game as the Nets piled up turnovers. Thanks to a 10-0 run, Los Angeles took a 65-62 lead, forcing the Nets to take a timeout.
Los Angeles outscored the Nets 33-23 in the third quarter as the Lakers took a one point lead, 76-75, into the fourth quarter.
The Nets found themselves in yet another close game, as they have many times this season. The first half of the fourth quarter was extremely evenly matched, as the Nets led 95-94 with six minutes remaining.
Brooklyn, highlighted by a Joe Harris three, put a flurry of points together to take a 102-94 lead. With a minute remaining, the Nets held an eight point lead, 104-96. The Lakers, as they had done a few times on Wednesday night, went cold offensively. Los Angeles missed 10 consecutive shots in the fourth quarter as the Nets pulled away.
The Nets got their seventh win of the season by a score of 107-97. Brooklyn also stopped their skid of allowing 110 or more points in a game, which had reached 14 straight games.
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets center Brook Lopez (11) controls the ball against Los Angeles Lakers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the first quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Takeaways
1. The starters contributed in a big way
The Nets starters contributed in a significant way on Wednesday night. Bojan Bogdanovic scored a game-high 23 points. Sean Kilpatrick nearly matched him, with 22 of his own, and Brook Lopez added 20. Trevor Booker scored just eight points, but he grabbed a game-high 18 rebounds. There have been nights where the Nets don’t get significant contributions across the board, and the result is often different than it was Wednesday night. By contrast, the Nets’ starters put together a great collective performance, even without Jeremy Lin.
2. The Nets took advantage at the charity stripe
The Nets were sent to the free throw line 40 times on Wednesday, and came away with 30 points, good for 75 percent shooting. Kilpatrick made 9-of-10 from the free throw line, while Bogdanovic made 8-of-10. In a game that was rather close throughout, the Nets’ starters took advantage of a majority of their free throw attempts.
3. The Nets needed this win, and finished it off in crunch time
The Lakers, as far as records are concerned, are a better team than the Nets. But with a young Lakers team on a cross-country trip in the midst of a losing streak, this was a winnable game for the Nets. With 12 minutes left to play, it was anybody’s game, as Los Angeles had a one point lead. The Nets were able to take the lead as the Lakers simultaneously struggled, and Brooklyn closed out the game, as good teams do with fourth quarter leads. The Nets did commit 15 turnovers, which could’ve jeopardized the win, but ultimately Brooklyn outlasted Los Angeles. The Nets got their seventh win, and the fact that they took, and then held a fourth quarter lead is a good sign moving forward.
Dec 14, 2016; Brooklyn, NY, USA; Brooklyn Nets shooting guard Bojan Bogdanovic (44) is fouled as he drives by Los Angeles Lakers point guard Jordan Clarkson (6) in front of Lakers small forward Luol Deng (9) during the fourth quarter at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports
Player of the Game
Sean Kilpatrick
SG, Brooklyn Nets
Wildcard
Bojan Bogdanovic
SG, Brooklyn Nets
Up your game, please…
Isaiah Whitehead
PG, Brooklyn Nets
After Wednesday’s win, the Brooklyn Nets improve to 7-17 on the season. The Nets will have Thursday off, before traveling to Orlando to take on the Magic on Friday, at 7:00 ET.
