The Brooklyn Nets completed the second part of their big early-season test on Monday night.

Despite losing both games back-to-back against the Boston Celtics and the Cleveland Cavaliers, they represented themselves well. Brooklyn took the Celtics to overtime after a potential game-winning three from Cam Johnson hit a back-iron at the end of regulation, then built a seven-point lead in clutch time against the 10-0 Cavs less than 24 hours later . .

Did they screw up that line? Yes, but they still made a statement. Facing the two best teams in the Eastern Conference, the Brooklyn Nets have proven that they are not only tough, but also pretty good. And damn spicy.

They defended like crazy against both teams, and would have won the back-to-back had they made one more jumper or one fewer turnover.

Facing a New Orleans Pelicans missing four starters — everyone but Brandon Ingram — the road trip presented a different kind of test to end the road trip. Brooklyn played their third game in four nights, all in different cities. They just suffered two high-intensity losses and now faced a depleted team with worse atmosphere and, in their current state, less talent. Can they overcome the fatigue, stay on their toes and avoid their first three-game losing streak of the season?

There were red flags in the first half. Brooklyn allowed seven offensive boards to New Orleans, and allowed the one player they shouldn’t beat, Ingram, to shoot 10-for-19 for 22 points. Granted, Ingram made some ridiculous shots, but getting nineteen on them while dropping four dimes was a problem.

Still, Brooklyn’s legs looked good as they shot 9-of-21 from three, turning it over just five times. Their bench was crucial here, led by none other than Ben Simmons, who posted an impressive ten assists in his twelve-minute first half.

Cam Thomas said: “Ben just did what Ben did: get us on offense, push the tempo and get his assists. So I mean, I need a lot more of that for the upcoming games, but at the same time, it’s still good to see.

Simmons would finish with 6/5/12 and two steals. His key contribution sparked Brooklyn’s offense in the first half. Before he checked in, the Nets had scored eight points in six minutes. A dozen ticks later, and they were up to 40. Simmons even shared the floor with Claxton for a while, and the combination looked pretty decent…

Noah Clowney, a very different kind of bench great, also made his presence felt, hitting a career-high five threes on his way to a season-high 15 points.

“When I get angry with the boys, they stop shooting,” Jordi Fernández said. “And one thing Noah has consistently done is let it fly.”

“I just need one (to get into the rhythm), if I make one it goes up,” Clowney said, before correcting himself: “I mean even if I don’t make one they still go up . So it doesn’t really matter.”

It looked like the Nets would capitalize on the momentum their reserves brought to a win; they doubled Ingram relentlessly in the second half, and he didn’t make a single field goal after halftime…

And then it fell apart, and the Nets fans rooting for a tank at full throttle took a deep breath; Jordi Fernández’s team ran out of gas at the end of their first real road trip. It happens.

A Pelicans team full of players in marginal rotation played their asses off, starting with rookie center Yves Missi, who outscored Brooklyn with 17 points and 11 boards. Then the turnovers came roaring back as the Nets committed 12 in the second half. In the end, New Orleans scored 30 paint points in the second half and the Nets 12.

Every little thing was killing the Nets; Forgivable or not, it felt like a loss, and Fernández admitted as much.

“We weren’t good enough, but actually we were lucky.”

Lucky they were somehow still in it in the fourth quarter? Or was he lucky that his team ended up shooting over 45% from three? Probably both. Granted, his defense got serious late in the fourth quarter, holding New Orleans scoreless for the final three and a half minutes, setting the stage for Brooklyn’s craziest three of the night.

After a tough layup from Cam Johnson, Brooklyn got a stop and found itself in a wayward offensive possession. They dribbled around the perimeter without danger and Jordi Fernández ventured to half court to force a timeout.

“I told the guys, if it gets to 37 (seconds) and we’re disorganized, I’ll call it. And I saw ourselves disorganized, that’s what I called it, but CT, he did what he does. Step back three, and the basketball gods…” Fernández said as he walked away, as no words could do justice to the winning shot.

Thomas drove the taller Javonte Green, then ducked back behind the three-point line and then used his last bit of energy to scrape the ceiling of the Smoothie King Center with an all-nylon step back three.

Or: “NYLON!!!” while Ian Eagle shouted into the microphone…

Fernandez is right. Brooklyn had nothing to do with winning that game. Even when Clowney hit five threes, even when Ziaire Williams ended his streak of 15 missed threes to hit two on Monday night, even when Nic Claxton dug deep to play a strong fourth quarter after a mediocre first three.

If you want to take into account the supposed tanking context of this season, the Nets Real had nothing to do with winning that match. But they did.

Javonte Green had a chance for redemption but nearly jammed his potential go-ahead three to the right side of the rim. Tanking, injuries, head coaching changes, road trips, whatever. This is still a make-or-miss competition, right?

Final score: Brooklyn Nets 107, New Orleans Pelicans

Milestone watch

• Not only did Noah Clowney set a career-high with five three-pointers made, but he beat Rodions Kurucs and Ryan Anderson by months, not years, becoming the youngest Net ever to do so.
• Seven Nets reached double figures on Monday night, tying the team’s season high. (Jalen Wilson and Dennis Schröder, neither of whom were mentioned above, together 25.)
• Ben Simmons’ twelve assists marked a season high.
• Domantas Sabonis is the only other NBA player this season to record a 10-assist half with zero turnovers, which Simmons accomplished in Monday’s first half.

Injury report

In addition to the continued, expected absences of Trendon Watford and Day’Ron Sharpe – although Watford are likely close to a return – Dorian Finney-Smith missed Monday’s match with a sprained left ankle. Ziaire Williams made his first start of the season in place of Finney-Smith.

Fernández said the injury “doesn’t have to be too worrying, but we have to be careful and do what is best for him and his body at this time,” the spokesperson said. New York Postby Brian Lewis.

Giannis Antetokounmpo’s chatter is amplified

Thanks to who else but The Sports Guy?

Hours before tipoff in New Orleans, Bill Simmons posted a clip from his podcast on

Simmons mentions that he likes the core of Thomas, Claxton and Schröder, then notes that Brooklyn can offer the Milwaukee Bucks a “**** load of choices.”

Nets fans have heard this rhetoric before, and while many will roll their eyes at the idea of ​​trading Antetokounmpo 11 games for a rebuild, this is undoubtedly great news. It’s 11 games to rebuild and is already seen as an attractive enough landing spot for arguably the second-best player in the world.

Still, Brooklyn likely won’t have these discussions until the offseason, when their near-term future (the draft, free agency, their cap space) crystallizes a bit. But Sean Marks should pick up the phone; it’s Giannis Antetokounmpo. (And yes, the Milwaukee Bucks seem cooked.)

Next up

Benny Sieu-Imagn images

Yes, again. And this time Jaylen Brown plays. Nets vs. Celtics tip off from the Barclays Center on Wednesday night at 7:30 PM ET.