The Brooklyn Nets once again found themselves in a roller-coaster matchup on Monday night. The Nets faced the Golden State Warriors in the last half of back-to-back matchups, and to say the game was interesting was an understatement. Brooklyn overcame a massive deficit to win 128-120. Dennis Schroder has stepped up numerous times for the Nets during the 2024-25 season and was at the center of the action on Monday.
Schroder was originally listed as questionable on Brooklyn's pregame injury report. However, he suited up and was a major asset for the Nets. The veteran guard outdueled Stephen Curry and finished with 31 points, seven assists, five rebounds, two steals, and shot a red-hot 50 percent (4-for-8) on his three-pointers.
The Nets trailed the Warriors by 18 points with roughly seven minutes left in the third quarter. Yet, somehow, Brooklyn turned things around to be down just 87-92 by the end of the period. Cam Thomas, Ziaire Williams, and the Nets' defense helped spur the comeback, and Schroder helped close things out.
Schroder scored 17 points in the fourth quarter and missed just two of his seven shot attempts. After the game, he gave Golden State respect but spoke on what makes the Nets' group so special:
“Yeah, they’re a hell of a team. But our character to come out here and compete on the highest level and get a win on their home court is pretty special,” Schroder said, per Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “Whatever it takes to win a basketball game.”
Nets stand out with competitive spirit
As Dennis Schroder alluded, Brooklyn's unwillingness to give up and compete hard until the final buzzer makes them special. Admittedly, the young squad has a habit of falling into holes during games, but they can impressively dig their way out of those holes.
Some fans and analysts expected the Nets to commit to tanking in 2024-25, but Jordi Fernandez might have other plans. Fernandez does not seem to prioritize a losing record for a chance to land a top prospect. Rather, he is preaching good habits and keeping the Nets accountable early on.
Whatever guidance he gave the Nets midway through their Warriors matchup was effective. Brooklyn outshot Golden State 44.4 to 41.3 percent on three-pointers, which was a bit surprising considering the Warriors' renowned offense and the fact that they played at home.
The Nets' showing is even more impressive because they performed well while shorthanded. No matter who is available on a given night, Brooklyn finds a way to compete to the best of their ability. Having a veteran leader like Dennis Schroder is helping the young squad tremendously. If the Nets continue to show this kind of fight, there is no telling how far they can go.