The Brooklyn Nets entered Little Caesars Arena to face the Detroit Pistons in the final game of their short road trip. Coming into the game, they were 1-1 with a win over the Trailblazers, but a loss to the Jazz. In the previous game versus the Jazz, they were without James Harden, Blake Griffin, and Kyrie Irving. Tonight, they had two-thirds of those players back. Harden put on a show in his first game back to get a win. The home team did not make it easy, though.
After having played 5 minutes of the opening quarter, Detroit took a 4 point lead. It was not long until Brooklyn gave them a run for their money. The game was tied three times the rest of the way; once at 17, another at 19, and finally at 24. A left-handed layup by Blake Griffin gave his team the first lead of the game. From that point on, it was all Brooklyn. They ended the first quarter on an 8-1 run and went into the second quarter up 34-27.
Both teams were very physical going into the second. Three minutes into the quarter, Isiah Stewart was ejected after a flagrant 2 personal foul. It sent Griffin to the line, where he made 1 of his 2 free-throws. Detroit attempted to come back in the last 4 minutes, but they could not get closer than 8. Brooklyn took a 13 point lead – their largest of the game at the 1:57 mark. A layup by Detroit’s Corey Joseph and a free-throw by Jerami Grant bought them within 9. It was a 59-50 game at the break.
Detroit entered the third quarter full force. They went on an 11-8 run. Halfway through the quarter, they found themselves inching closer to Brooklyn, as they were only down 3. Grant’s finger-roll layup gave his team their first lead of the game since the first quarter. The game remained tight as there was not much of a difference in terms of shooting. Detroit was 42% from the field and 28% from downtown, while Brooklyn was 41% from the field and 31% from deep. Harden knocked in a three-pointer at the buzzard to send Brooklyn into the fourth ahead 82-78.
Brooklyn had a little bit of breathing room to start the fourth quarter. They took a 10 point lead 2 minutes in. From there, however, it was a back and forth game. Detroit was down 1 at the 4:53 mark. In the final seconds, it was back to a 2 point game. Jeff Green was inbounding for Brooklyn with hopes he would find a teammate that could put this one away. A steal by Saddiq Bey gave Detroit the ball back with 3 seconds left. They were now tasked with driving down the court and scoring to send it to overtime. Joseph got it to the basket but could not put it in before the buzzard. Brooklyn beat Detroit 113-111.
Though they were able to come away with a victory, coach Nash was not at all pleased with their performance.
“We won the game and went 2-1 on the road trip, which is all positive, but it was sloppy,” he said. “It just felt like Detroit wanted it more than we did too often.”
However, Coach Nash gave Harden praise for carrying the team offensively, acknowledging that he made some big plays.
Harden led the team with 44 points, 14 rebounds, and 8 assists. When asked if he felt that he belonged in MVP conversations, he did not hesitate to answer.
“I feel like I am the MVP. It’s just that simple,” he said. “I try to go out there every night and give my teammates everything that I can.”
Up Next:
The Nets will fly back home to host the Timberwolves on Monday, March 29th at 8:00pm.
The Pistons will travel to Washington to take on the Wizards on Saturday, March 27th at 8:00pm.
