Brooklyn Nets outmuscled by Detroit Pistons, lose 115-94
Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images
Less than 24 hours after Jordi Fernández rightfully questioned his team’s effort, the Brooklyn Nets dug deep. But that was all. “Last night was not the way we want to play in terms of consistency and focus. But that’s the beauty of the NBA, we got another game tonight.”
Some may disagree with Head Coach Jordi Fernández there and call it the curse of the NBA. One night after getting pantsed by the Portland Trail Blazers at Barclays Center, the Brooklyn Nets were playing the Detroit Pistons on the road, and they were doomed from the start.
The Nets have overachieved in 2024-25, though their wins have largely been concentrated in two different stretches, but they entered Saturday night with a 21-38 record. It’s a bit easier to overachieve when expectations are so low, so make no mistake, the Nets are not a good NBA team, even on their best days.
Even as a league-best defense propelled them to a 7-3 stretch, they had the 28th-ranked offense in that span. Keon Johnson, their starting shooting guard in 36 games this season, shoots 37% from the field. It’s just not a good team, though not consistently bad enough to execute a proper tank.
The Detroit Pistons are also overachievers in 2024-25, but not simply due to low expectations. After posting the worst record in the NBA for two straight seasons, an 8-1 stretch has them sitting above .500 in March. They have a chance to host a playoff series this season!
By halftime, they had built a 23-point lead that was once as high as 25, and Brooklyn was lucky it wasn’t worse. Brooklyn posted an eFG% of 32.7, while Detroit more than doubled them at 68.8%. Malik Beasley came off the bench to do the only thing you can’t let him do and found the 3-point line.
Like Friday’s game, the Nets forced plenty of turnovers, but couldn’t capitalize on them. Jordi Fernández’s team tried to play hard, but couldn’t find any solid ground to push off. Less than 24 hours after the head coach criticized his team’s effort, Brooklyn didn’t do much to sway Fernández either way.
That is, until a third quarter in which they cut the deficit to six. They didn’t light it up from the field, but turned up the defensive pressure even more and got out in transition...
I did not think the Nets had a run in them.It's down to 6. Playing fantastic defense: pic.twitter.com/MTBRsnnLWL— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) March 2, 2025
Though shot after shot clanking off iron dampened the mood, certain Nets did shine, if just for a moment. Brooklyn’s bench, led by Tyrese Martin with 23 points and Jalen Wilson with 14, picked up the starters at every turn; even Reece Beekman made some nice defensive plays.
Nic Claxton started March the way he played all of February, blocking five shots despite struggling on the other end...
Clax’s Block Party continues from last month with 5️⃣ swats tonight! pic.twitter.com/NJeqeN1ZAH— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) March 2, 2025
But nobody struggled as much as Cam Johnson, who shot 3-of-20 from the floor, 0-of-10 from three, and posted nary an assist to three turnovers in what was surely the worst game of his career. While it’s tough to point the finger at one person for Brooklyn’s wire-to-wire deficit, perhaps that third quarter run would have put the Nets up in the ballgame if Johnson had made a few of his looks.
At the very least, Brooklyn dug deep on the second-night of a back-to-back with travel, down Cam Thomas and Trendon Watford (injury management for each) to annoy the Pistons into committing some every unsavory technical fouls, even getting Beasley ejected (two technicals) from the ballgame.
Detroit did find a game-sealing run early in the fourth though, led by their defense. Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart stared Brooklyn’s center tandem down, combining for ten of Detroit’s 15 blocks. Cade Cunningham posted 15/7/9, Tobias Harris snuck in 18 points, and ex-Net Dennis Schröder scored seven while getting into the friendliest antics of the night...
Tyrese Martin hits the three over Dennis Schröder, celebrates accordingly, Dennis gets him back. fun: pic.twitter.com/sP5oXQk0Bh— Lucas Kaplan (@LucasKaplan_) March 2, 2025
It’s hard to be mad at the under-manned Nets for this one; sometimes shots don’t go in. Sometimes the schedule gets ya, and the opponent is just better. But so clearly lagging behind the field in talent, even without Thomas and Watford; it makes you wonder what this season is all about.
There is much to like about the Brooklyn Nets in the first season of the Jordi Fernández Era, but 21-40 is not where you want to be, even as an overachiever. For many reasons...
Final Score: Detroit Pistons 115, Brooklyn Nets 94
Milestone Watch
Day’Ron Sharpe scored just four points, but handed out a career-high six assists and registered a career-high four steals.
That marks Nic Claxton’s fourth game this season with five+ blocks, fourth in the NBA.
Tyrese Martin registered the second-highest scoring performance of his career with those 23 points, trailing only his 30-point explosion in the desert earlier this season.
Injury Report
Cam Thomas and Trendon Watford each missed Saturday’s game with injury management, as both have lost serious chunks of their season due to left hamstring injuries.
Thomas returned from his hamstring injury on Friday night, so his absence was no surprise. While Watford has played in 11 games since he returning, he has now missed his only two chances to play both ends of a back-to-back.
Nothing to be overly concerned about here, especially because both Watford and Thomas have injured their left hamstrings twice this season. Caution, caution, caution.
Yongxi “Jacky” Cui says goodbye
Remember Jacky? (It’s been a long season.)
Recently, Cui posted some reflections from his brief rookie season in the NBA, and had the following message (translated from Mandarin) for the Brooklyn Nets:
“I really thank the Brooklyn Nets for giving me the opportunity to let an ignorant teenager with the dream of NBA truly stand on the highest level of world basketball. After I was injured, they provided me with meticulous care and concern, so that I never felt lonely and helpless in the United States.
“I also want to thank the Nets owner Mr. Joe Tsai. He took out precious time from his busy schedule to visit me in person. He gave me a lot of encouragement and advice, which made me more determined to overcome the injury and return to the court. Injury is unfortunate, but the warm care of Mr. Tsai made me feel real happiness.”
No word on whether the Nets would be interested in a reunion. The Nets and Suns play in Macao, China, in early October.
Next Up
Photo by Logan Riely/NBAE via Getty Images
The Brooklyn Nets head south for just one more game on the road, this one against a Wemby-less San Antonio Spurs team. Tip-off is scheduled for Tuesday evening at 8:30 p.m. ET.
Boxscore: Detroit Pistons 115, Brooklyn Nets 94 - NBA
Game Highlights: Detroit Pistons 115, Brooklyn Nets 94 (Video) - NBA
Jordi Fernández on the Nets’ loss to the Pistons (Video) - YES Network
Ask the announcers: Vince Carter’s jersey retirement (Video) - Noah Eagle & Vince Carter - YES Network
Cunningham breaks out of slump to lead Pistons past Nets 115-94 - Dave Hogg - AP
Pistons bounce back from loss, blow out Nets - Reuters
Nets hammered by Cade Cunningham, Pistons for fourth straight loss - Brian Lewis - New York Post
Slow Starts a Point of Focus for Brooklyn Nets Head Coach and Players - Wilko Martinez Cachero - Sports Illustrated
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