Nets beat Pistons 123-108, close in on playoff berth
DETROIT (AP) Mikal Bridges scored 26 points and the Brooklyn Nets moved to the verge of a playoff spot by beating the Detroit Pistons 123-108 on Wednesday night.
“We just had to stay locked in down the stretch," Bridges said. “We knew they made a big run against Miami last night, so we were expecting them to make it tough on us, too.”
Former Pistons guard Spencer Dinwiddie shot 1 for 10 from the floor but matched his career high with 16 assists for the Nets (44-36), who won for the fourth time in five games. They need one more victory or loss by Miami (42-37) to clinch the No. 6 seed in the Eastern Conference.
Joe Harris had 18 points on six 3-pointers, all in Brooklyn’s 47-point first quarter.
“The ball was really moving. Spencer did a great job of facilitating,” he said. “We're playing unselfishly and making the second pass to turn good shots into great ones.”
R.J. Hampton had a career-high 27 points for Detroit, which has lost 22 of its last 23 games. Jaden Ivey had 23 points and 10 assists.
The Pistons trailed by as many as 19 points, but Hampton had 18 points in the third quarter to help them pull within 96-90.
“We took a punch in the third, but I thought we really responded,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said. “We had every guy doing whatever they could to try to contribute to a win.”
However, Brooklyn was able to take advantage of Detroit's biggest weakness, getting enough offensive rebounds to prevent the Pistons from putting together a fourth-quarter run.
“It came down to the little things again tonight - that's what always seems to be the issue for us,” Hampton said. “We need to take the step up from playing 42 good minutes to playing 48 good minutes. That's when we will win some games.”
Brooklyn had its biggest quarter of the season in the first, but Harris missed an open 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have made it 50 points. Dinwiddie's 10 assists in the period were the most in the NBA this season.
“We just had everything going and Spencer was finding everybody,” Bridges said. “They kept overhelping and we were able to get a lot of good looks.”
The Nets couldn't keep up that pace in the second quarter, but the Pistons were only within 74-57 at the half because of six missed Brooklyn free throws. The Nets had a 35-13 edge in bench scoring in the half and had four players in double figures.
After starting 10 of 16, Brooklyn missed 13 of its next 14 3-point attempts, allowing Detroit to stay within 81-69 midway through the third quarter. Hampton led Detroit's rally with four 3-pointers, including a 30-footer to make it 91-87 with 59 seconds left in the third quarter.
TIP-INS
Nets: The 47-point quarter was the fourth-biggest in franchise history. The Nets had a 51-point fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on March 3, 2020, and had 48-point quarters against the Pistons (1980) and Orlando (2022). ... The Nets are the last team to lose a home game to the Pistons, losing 130-122 on Jan. 26.
Pistons: Detroit finished the season with a 9-32 record at Little Caesars Arena, the only NBA team to win fewer than 10 games at home. Charlotte and San Antonio are next with 13 wins. ... The Pistons were down to six healthy players when Ivey limped off late in the third, but he returned from the locker room for the fourth.
WAITING FOR NEXT WEEK
Pistons coach Dwane Casey met with owner Tom Gores after the game, but he said they agreed to wait until after the season ends to make any decisions about next year. Casey is 121-261 (.317) in five seasons with the Pistons, including 80-220 (.267) in the last four years.
UP NEXT
Nets: Host the Orlando Magic on Friday before finishing the regular season with a home game against the Philadelphia 76ers on Sunday.
Pistons: Finish the season with divisional road games against the Indiana Pacers (Friday) and Chicago Bulls (Sunday). The Pistons are 1-13 against the Central Division this season.
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Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nic Claxton vs. James Wiseman (Killian Hayes gains possession) | |||
11:34 | +3 | Eugene Omoruyi makes three point jump shot (Killian Hayes assists) | 0-3 | |
11:21 | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 3-3 | |
11:06 | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point dunk (Jaden Ivey assists) | 3-5 | |
10:51 | Mikal Bridges turnover (lost ball) (Eugene Omoruyi steals) | |||
10:46 | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Eugene Omoruyi assists) | 3-7 | |
10:33 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 6-7 | |
10:20 | Eugene Omoruyi misses three point jump shot | |||
10:18 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
10:07 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 9-7 | |
9:52 | Royce O'Neale blocks Eugene Omoruyi's two point cutting layup | |||
9:51 | Eugene Omoruyi offensive rebound | |||
9:50 | Eugene Omoruyi misses two point putback layup | |||
9:47 | Jalen Duren offensive rebound | |||
9:46 | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point putback layup | 9-9 | |
9:38 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 12-9 | |
9:18 | +2 | Killian Hayes makes two point pullup jump shot | 12-11 | |
9:05 | Mikal Bridges misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:02 | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | |||
8:52 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point layup (Jalen Duren assists) | 12-13 | |
8:52 | Nic Claxton shooting foul (James Wiseman draws the foul) | |||
8:52 | +1 | James Wiseman makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 12-14 | |
8:31 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
8:28 | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | |||
8:22 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point cutting dunk (Royce O'Neale assists) | 14-14 | |
8:04 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 14-16 | |
7:52 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 16-16 | |
7:42 | Spencer Dinwiddie shooting foul (James Wiseman draws the foul) | |||
7:42 | +1 | James Wiseman makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 16-17 | |
7:42 | +1 | James Wiseman makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 16-18 | |
7:33 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 18-18 | |
7:33 | Killian Hayes shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
7:33 | Mikal Bridges misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | |||
7:30 | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | |||
7:20 | Jaden Ivey misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
7:17 | Cameron Johnson defensive rebound | |||
7:13 | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:11 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
6:59 | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-20 | |
6:52 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
6:41 | Mikal Bridges misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
6:38 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
6:31 | +3 | Eugene Omoruyi makes three point pullup jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 18-23 | |
6:15 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
6:12 | James Wiseman defensive rebound | |||
6:08 | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point running dunk (James Wiseman assists) | 18-25 | |
5:49 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 21-25 | |
5:28 | +2 | James Wiseman makes two point turnaround hook shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 21-27 | |
5:06 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point pullup jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 24-27 | |
4:48 | Jalen Duren turnover (bad pass) (Nic Claxton steals) | |||
4:42 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point running jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 27-27 | |
4:28 | Jaden Ivey misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:28 | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | |||
4:17 | Jalen Duren shooting foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
4:17 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 28-27 | |
4:17 | +1 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 29-27 | |
3:58 | Killian Hayes misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:55 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
3:40 | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving floating jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 31-27 | |
3:40 | R.J. Hampton shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
3:40 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 32-27 | |
3:22 | Spencer Dinwiddie blocks R.J. Hampton's two point pullup jump shot | |||
3:22 | Pistons offensive rebound | |||
3:22 | Pistons 60 second timeout | |||
3:16 | +2 | Jalen Duren makes two point floating jump shot | 32-29 | |
3:01 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 35-29 | |
2:44 | Jaden Ivey misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
2:43 | Joe Harris defensive rebound | |||
2:35 | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
2:31 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
2:31 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point tip layup | 37-29 | |
2:17 | Jalen Duren misses two point jump shot | |||
2:17 | Nets defensive rebound | |||
2:08 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 40-29 | |
1:53 | +3 | Cory Joseph makes three point jump shot (Killian Hayes assists) | 40-32 | |
1:46 | +2 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes two point cutting layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 42-32 | |
1:46 | R.J. Hampton shooting foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
1:46 | +1 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 43-32 | |
1:31 | Eugene Omoruyi turnover (bad pass) (Day'Ron Sharpe steals) | |||
1:24 | Joe Harris misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:22 | Yuta Watanabe offensive rebound | |||
1:11 | +3 | Joe Harris makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 46-32 | |
0:58 | Eugene Omoruyi offensive foul (Spencer Dinwiddie draws the foul) | |||
0:58 | Eugene Omoruyi turnover (offensive foul) | |||
0:43 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses two point stepback jump shot | |||
0:40 | Killian Hayes defensive rebound | |||
0:38 | Killian Hayes turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
0:31 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
0:30 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:30 | James Wiseman personal foul (Loose ball) (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
0:30 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
0:30 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:30 | +1 | Day'Ron Sharpe makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 47-32 | |
0:19 | +2 | Killian Hayes makes two point pullup jump shot | 47-34 | |
0:01 | Joe Harris misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Pistons defensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:41 | Cameron Johnson misses three point jump shot | |||
11:38 | R.J. Hampton defensive rebound | |||
11:22 | +2 | Jared Rhoden makes two point cutting dunk (Jaden Ivey assists) | 47-36 | |
11:07 | Cameron Johnson turnover (bad pass) (Cory Joseph steals) | |||
11:02 | +2 | R.J. Hampton makes two point running layup (Cory Joseph assists) | 47-38 | |
10:43 | +2 | Edmond Sumner makes two point driving finger roll layup (Nic Claxton assists) | 49-38 | |
10:26 | James Wiseman misses two point driving hook shot | |||
10:25 | Pistons offensive rebound | |||
10:24 | +2 | Jaden Ivey makes two point cutting layup (R.J. Hampton assists) | 49-40 | |
10:24 | Yuta Watanabe shooting foul (Jaden Ivey draws the foul) | |||
10:24 | +1 | Jaden Ivey makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 49-41 | |
10:13 | R.J. Hampton personal foul (Edmond Sumner draws the foul) | |||
10:01 | +3 | Yuta Watanabe makes three point jump shot (Seth Curry assists) | 52-41 | |
9:48 | +3 | Jaden Ivey makes three point pullup jump shot | 52-44 | |
9:40 | +2 | Edmond Sumner makes two point driving layup | 54-44 | |
9:29 | Jared Rhoden misses three point jump shot | |||
9:26 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
9:13 | Seth Curry misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
9:10 | Jared Rhoden defensive rebound | |||
9:04 | Jared Rhoden misses two point driving floating bank jump shot | |||
9:02 | Jaden Ivey offensive rebound | |||
8:55 | +3 | R.J. Hampton makes three point jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 54-47 | |
8:55 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
8:47 | Nets turnover (8-second violation) | |||
8:38 | +3 | Jaden Ivey makes three point pullup jump shot (James Wiseman assists) | 54-50 | |
8:25 | Yuta Watanabe misses three point jump shot | |||
8:22 | Jared Rhoden defensive rebound | |||
8:19 | Nic Claxton personal foul (James Wiseman draws the foul) | |||
8:04 | James Wiseman misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
8:01 | Seth Curry defensive rebound | |||
7:50 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point layup (Cameron Johnson assists) | 56-50 | |
7:33 | +3 | Cory Joseph makes three point jump shot (Jaden Ivey assists) | 56-53 | |
7:11 | +2 | Cameron Johnson makes two point cutting dunk (Mikal Bridges assists) | 58-53 | |
6:56 | Jaden Ivey turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
6:47 | Jaden Ivey shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | |||
6:47 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 59-53 | |
6:47 | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 60-53 | |
6:30 | James Wiseman misses two point layup | |||
6:28 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
6:20 | +2 | Cameron Johnson makes two point driving layup (Royce O'Neale assists) | 62-53 | |
6:10 | Royce O'Neale blocks R.J. Hampton's two point driving layup | |||
6:09 | Nets defensive rebound | |||
5:44 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
5:42 | Cory Joseph defensive rebound | |||
5:33 | Jaden Ivey turnover (traveling) | |||
5:14 | Cameron Johnson turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
5:14 | Pistons 60 second timeout | |||
4:55 | Jaden Ivey turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||
4:39 | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
4:37 | Eugene Omoruyi defensive rebound | |||
4:18 | Eugene Omoruyi misses three point jump shot | |||
4:14 | Seth Curry defensive rebound | |||
4:03 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Royce O'Neale assists) | 64-53 | |
3:48 | Eugene Omoruyi turnover (traveling) | |||
3:33 | Mikal Bridges misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
3:32 | Day'Ron Sharpe offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | Jared Rhoden shooting foul (Day'Ron Sharpe draws the foul) | |||
3:31 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
3:31 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
3:31 | Day'Ron Sharpe misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | |||
3:27 | Jalen Duren defensive rebound | |||
3:13 | Killian Hayes misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
3:11 | Day'Ron Sharpe defensive rebound | |||
2:54 | Royce O'Neale turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | |||