It was a sport the Nets needed to have.
And so they flew all the way down to South Seashore and took it.
The stakes have been larger Saturday night time at FTX Area than they’ve been at any level this season: Win and leapfrog the Miami Warmth within the standings for sole possession of the Japanese Convention’s remaining assured playoff seed.
Lose and the hole between the Nets and Warmth would widen, transferring Brooklyn nearer to a sudden-death play-in event actuality no playoff hopeful desires to stay.
And after 5 straight losses, together with 4 in a row at house, the Nets secured a signature victory in a 129-100 romp over the Warmth on Saturday. It marked each the most important margin of victory and essentially the most factors scored in opposition to the Warmth in franchise historical past.
The Nets have swept the Warmth within the season sequence, 4-0.
It was a vital victory as a result of the worst of the Nets’ hellacious post-All-Star break schedule has handed — save for the season finale at house in opposition to a championship-contending Philadelphia 76ers staff.
The Nets now have the second-easiest remaining schedule. They play the Orlando Magic within the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday, then play six of their final seven video games at Barclays Middle.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn, nevertheless, doesn’t wish to look that far down the street. His message to the staff had been to give attention to the duty of the day.
On Saturday, that meant securing a victory in a must-win sport. In opposition to a Warmth staff that had gained 4 of its final 5 and 7 of its final 10, the Nets have been speculated to have their work minimize out for them.
And early into the night time, it appeared like Brooklyn’s shedding streak was headed for loss No. 6. Miami made 13 of its first 16 shot makes an attempt and jumped out to an early 14-point lead.
Halfway by the second quarter, a flip switched. The Nets began getting stops and the hot-shooting Warmth cooled off.
Brooklyn held Miami to simply 31 factors within the second half and simply 13 factors within the fourth quarter.
All 5 Nets starters scored in double figures, led by Mikal Bridges, who completed with 27 factors and 7 assists. Cam Johnson broke free from a taking pictures droop and hit 5 threes for 23 factors, and Nic Claxton added 14 factors and 10 rebounds, together with an alley-oop tomahawk poster dunk over Warmth ahead Caleb Martin.
Spencer Dinwiddie tallied 15 factors and 9 assists, and reserve guard Edmond Sumner stepped in for the absent Seth Curry (private causes) and contributed 12 factors off the bench.
The Nets led by as many as 30 within the fourth quarter for considered one of their most convincing victories for the reason that Feb. 9 NBA commerce deadline.
STANDINGS CHECK
Thursday’s victory moved the Nets a half-game forward of the Warmth for sole possession of the Japanese Convention’s No. 6 seed.
The win strikes the Nets out of the play-in event with solely eight video games remaining on the schedule.
The Nets are additionally solely a game-and-a-half behind the Knicks, who maintain the East’s No. 5 seed and personal the fourth-lightest remaining schedule within the NBA.
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