The Brooklyn Nets' second NBA Cup matchup of the 2024-25 season against the Charlotte Hornets did not disappoint. Nets fans were worried during the first half of the game after their team went down with a commanding double-digit deficit, but Brooklyn battled back and won 116-115. Here are three of the most notable takeaways from the impressive victory.
Admirable fight
It did not take long for the Hornets to gain a sizable lead on the Nets. Charlotte jumped out to a 22-9 advantage during the first quarter that grew to 37-20. It seemed like Brooklyn did not bring enough juice into the matchup. However, they fought admirably and began to turn things around in the second quarter.
The Nets ended the second period down just 59-54, largely spurred by Cam Johnson's 12-point quarter (more on him later). Brooklyn kept battling and eventually took a 60-59 lead in the third. That momentum translated into sound execution that eventually led to a win.
Jordi Fernandez has the Nets playing hard, and there is something special about the team's ability to climb out of holes and keep fighting despite having the odds against them.
Cam Johnson is showing he is Brooklyn's 2nd star
Johnson had one of his best performances of the season on Tuesday. His 12-point quarter was just part of the 34 points he totaled on 55 percent (11-for-20) shooting from the field and 50 percent (6-for-12) shooting from beyond the arc.
The seventh-year guard is on a hot streak with no signs of stopping. He had just come off a 22-point performance against the New York Knicks on Nov. 17. One of the best things about Johnson is that offense is not all he brings to the table. In addition to grabbing five boards against the Hornets, he nabbed two blocks and one steal.
Brooklyn will continue to welcome Johnson's services, especially when Cam Thomas sits.
Nets are proving they can get it done without Cam Thomas
Depth is a wonderful thing, and Brooklyn is proving they have it. Cam Johnson may have led the team in scoring on Tuesday, but several other contributors stepped up. Most notably, Jalen Wilson scored a season-high 17 points on a blazing 62.5 percent (5-for-8) three-point shooting clip.
In addition, Dennis Schroder scored 14 points and dished 12 assists, while Trendon Watford, who is working his way back from an injury hiatus, scored 10 points and grabbed four rebounds. Ben Simmons also had a notable day, scoring a season-high 10 points along with nine rebounds, five assists, two steals, and one block.
Cam Thomas sat Tuesday's game out with lower back tightness. Hopefully, he will undergo a speedy recovery. Yet, his teammates proved themselves reliable without their No. 1 scorer, which has to have Jordi Fernandez and the whole team feeling good.
The Nets improved to 6-9 on the season and 1-1 in NBA Cup play, the latter of which ranks them third in the East Group A.