In recent days, Brooklyn Nets decided to hold Cameron Johnson before the trade deadline and relinquished Ben Simmons.
On the floor, Nets played one of its best defensive games in the season, and they are in their best route in 2025 on Monday’s visit from Charlotte Hornets.
Nets are 4-1 in the last five matches since they endured a seven-game losing line and released 12 out of 13. In their last four wins, Nets held each opponent below 100 points and did not let any of them shoot better than 41 percent.
The last hot stretch started with a victory 104-83 at Charlotte on January 29, when Nets allowed its smallest points this season and held Hornets to 33.7 percent from the field. The latest victory was an impressive decision of 102-86 over Miami Heat on Friday night, when Nets ended with a fourth quarter of 31-9, allowed 35.6 percent shooting (including 2 out of 21 in the fourth) and blocked a season best 13 shots .
“It will be difficult to hold teams to nine points in a quarter, but I just think we were just locked up,” said Trendon Watford, who inherited Brooklyn’s role protection role after Simmons waived on Saturday. “We were just locked up throughout the game, and we only raised it during the fourth quarter.”
Johnson led Nets with 18 points after receiving 17 on Wednesday in his return from an ankle injury. D’Angelo Russell added 17 and had a block on a 3-point that led to Keon Johnson’s late can.
Nets also sees a top in Nic Claxton’s performance. Claxtton reached double digits for the fourth time in five matches with 12 points, 10 returns and four blocks, two shy of the season he put in Charlotte.
Hornets is 2-9 in the last 11 since he won three straight with a combined 12 point January 15-20.
Charlotte lost sex straight before Miles Bridges met the prominent 3-pointer with a second left in Friday’s victory 117-116 over the visiting San Antonio Spurs. However, Hornets could not follow it up with another victory on Sunday. They dragged the Detroit pistons with as many as 28 points early, the lead testified to two with about eight minutes left in the match, but fell 112-102 in the opener of nine straight road games.
Bridges got 30 points and is on average 24 points in their last nine. Seth Curry added a season high 26, but Charlotte allowed 39 points in the opening quarter and a 66-point opening half before satisfying first-year coach Charles Lee with an improved last 24 minutes.
“We grew (Sunday),” Lee said. “We got much better. I love the process. I love communication and I love to see guys being in these moments to be able to grow and learn how it is and how they can do better.”
Charlotte took her latest loss with a short -handed range that was missing Lamelo Ball (ankle). Ball was originally hesitant but set out for the seventh time in ten matches and Hornets dropped to 1-17 without him this season.
Ball was held at 12 points in the first meeting when Brooklyn fled with a home victory of 116-115 on November 19. If he can’t play, KJ Simpson would probably start.
Hornets was also without Mark Williams, whose trade in Los Angeles Lakers was abolished due to a reported failed physical. Williams is an average of 15.6 points in 23 matches this season but can be out again Monday.
-Field level media
