NBA] Nets take second place by themselves after winning a close game! Yuta Watanabe made one 3-pointer but did not see any playing time in the second half

Last Updated on 01/07/2023 by てんしょく飯

On January 6, the Brooklyn Nets and the New Orleans Pelicans played at the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana.

The Nets won 108-102. Yuta Watanabe scored 3 points (1/1 field goal, 1/1 3-pointer) in 8:50 of play.

The Nets, whose winning streak was snapped at 12 in their last game, had an unchanged starting lineup of Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Ben Simmons, Royce O’Neal, and Nick Claxton. However, early on, the Pelicans, without mainstays Zion Williamson and Brandon Ingram, set the tone with good defense and took the lead. After 8 minutes of play, a series of 3-pointers by Najee Marshall gave the Pelicans an early 10-point lead.

Watanabe, who entered the court in such an inferior situation, made his first 3-pointer in two games from the right corner with 1:46 left in the first quarter. Seth Curry and Durant followed with long-range shots to end the first 12 minutes at 27-28.

The second quarter was again at the Pelicans’ pace. From the start, they went on a 15-1 run, including eight straight points from Jose Alvarado, and the point differential was again in double digits. Watanabe was put in with 4:25 left in the first half chasing nine points, but no shooting opportunities presented themselves, and the teams went back up 53-64.

Looking to fight back, the Nets scored eight points in the second half, including two 3-pointers in the opening minute and a half by Durant, followed by Irving and Claxton, and a 3-pointer by O’Neill at 8:15 of the third quarter. After that, it was a seesaw game, with both sides trading leads throughout the fourth quarter.

Watanabe was used at the beginning of the fourth quarter with a three-point lead, but was replaced after just 1:08 of play after a layup by Alvarado, who was performing well. With 43 seconds left in the game, the Nets ran away with the win after Irving’s deep three extended the point differential to six points. The Nets won a close game in a hostile environment after falling behind by as many as 15 points.

Durant had a game-high 33 points and 10 rebounds for the Nets, who improved to 26-13 on the season, while Irving had 19 points and 5 assists. TJ Warren, who was on fire during a difficult time, contributed 15 points, O’Neal 14 points and 7 rebounds, Simmons 6 points and 10 assists, and Claxton, who turned the tide with a hustle play, had 9 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 blocks in the win.

The Nets are now in sole second place in the Eastern Conference after the Milwaukee Bucks, who were tied for the winning percentage, lost on the same day. They will play their next game on January 8 against the eighth-place Miami Heat in a hostile environment.