They’re one step nearer to grabbing the sixth seed.
The Nets went into Detroit needing two wins to lock up the ultimate assured playoff spot and they're midway to attaining that aim after defeating the Pistons, 123-108, at Little Caesars Enviornment.
The Nets (44-36) simply exceeded their season’s factors per sport common (113.5) and handed the lowly Pistons (16-64) their twenty second loss in 23 video games, additional giving Dwane Casey’s staff one of the best odds to be suitors to win the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes.
Spencer Dinwiddie led the cost for the away staff, totaling 10 assists within the first quarter. He’s the one participant within the league to take action this season and the third in franchise historical past (Jason Kidd and Robert Pack). He completed with six factors and tied his career-high with 16 assists in 33 minutes.
4 of these assists went to Joe Harris, who subbed in after Cam Johnson limped off the courtroom after bumping knees with Jaden Ivey within the first quarter. Harris scored 5 straight three-pointers shortly after coming into the sport, ending the quarter with six three-pointers and 18 factors. Harris completed the night time capturing 6-for-9 off the bench.
The Nets ended the primary quarter up 13 and held the lead all through the sport.
Wednesday’s sport served as a gentle touchdown spot for a staff preventing for playoff seeding after a tricky loss to the Minnesota Timberwolves. Jacque Vaughn’s staff entered the back-to-back street sport 11.5 level favorites in opposition to the Pistons, who will end the season with the worst document within the NBA.
A vivid spot for the Pistons, although, is Ivey, who was chosen with the fifth-overall choice within the 2022 draft.
The previous Boilermaker scored 13 factors and dished eight assists within the first half. He left the sport after sustaining a leg damage and received handled a technical foul for slamming the ball on the courtroom. He returned within the fourth quarter and completed the night time with 23 factors, 10 assists and 5 rebounds.
The Nets’ lead was reduce to 4 within the third quarter after R.J. Hampton nailed a deep three-pointer, scoring the staff’s earlier 14 factors. He scored 18 factors within the third quarter and completed with a career-high 27 factors, 5 rebounds and two assists.
The win strikes the Nets 1.5 video games forward of the Miami Warmth, who're sitting within the East’s seventh seed. The Warmth had been off on Wednesday and can be in motion on the street in opposition to the Philadelphia 76ers.
The Nets are mathematically eradicated from the fifth seed as there’s no state of affairs in Brooklyn’s favor to go the No. 5 Knicks.
So the principle focus for the Nets is to safe yet another win and the sixth seed. The Nets will even clinch the ultimate assured postseason spot with a Warmth loss.
Brooklyn’s ultimate two video games can be performed at Barclays Heart. The penultimate sport can be in opposition to the Orlando Magic on Friday, then MVP candidate Joel Embiid and the Sixers arrive in Brooklyn on Sunday.
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