All good: Nets win 11th straight, beating Hornets, 123-106

The Nets enter 2023 like few other teams in franchise history. Brooklyn came to Charlotte on his 10th straight win and left for New Year’s Eve celebrations on his 11th straight win. Final score: 123-106.

The streak is now the third longest in Nets history, three more than the franchise record set twice under Jason Kidd. December was also the best month in Nets history with a 12-1 record. And Jack Vaughan is 22-7 with a 75.9% clip since replacing Steve Nash.

This game was what the fans had been waiting for. Wire-to-wire victory over a mediocre team led by the heroics of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, solid defense and solid bench play as the Nets outscored the Hornets tonight, Watanabe at 42-31, 11 TJ Warren leads with Yuta and 10.

The Nets led by 10 points in the 1st quarter, 15 points in the 2nd quarter, 18 points in the 3rd quarter and 22 points in the 4th, improving to the NBA’s second-best 24-12 record. . There was a moment when Nets fans might have had an extra sip of eggnog. and sparked a 28-14 surge for Brooklyn going into the 4th quarter with a 97-79 lead.

Durant scored 23 points in just 30 minutes, didn’t play in the fourth quarter, and the Nets’ lead was between 18 and 20 for most stanzas. When the Hornets threatened to close in, Irving continued to push the Hornets back, scoring 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting and was a game-high scorer, including 4-of-3 9-of-3 shooting.

And once again, Nic Claxton flaunted his qualifications for the NBA All-Defense Team. Claxton finished with 14 points, missing only 1 of his 7 shots, had 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and had 6 blocks in two straight games. Royce O’Neill also put in a solid run to finish with 14 points.

Ben Simmons, who had been in the game for the past two days due to bad weather, started and played just 2 points, 2 rebounds and 3 assists in 19 minutes.

Bourne, who currently has the best win-loss record of any Nets coach (29-10, including “Bubble”), spoke about what he told the team before the game.

“Really, my message to the group before the game is let’s end the year in the right way. And it’s being taken care of. [this] game,” said Vaughan. “When we turn the page in 2023, [New Year’s] There will be a solution, but it really is to keep this group here, play today’s game, win today’s game. ”

And after the game, he said he thought the Nets did it.

“We were down to 22 points in the first quarter, so we stamped the game quickly,” Bourne said. “I think we were able to use rotation and depth to extend our lead a little bit.

KD said his team expects Charlotte to take on the challenge.

“I knew this team was going to be hot,” Durant said of Charlotte. “They knew he could be hot in the third quarter because he hit threes in the first half. And they did. They cut it to six.

“We have been in this position before, so we knew what to do.

LaMelo Ball had 23 points, 7 rebounds and 11 assists for Charlotte. Former Nett Mason Plumlee added 22. The Hornets he fell 10-27.

Head coach’s point of view

Are they champion contenders now? Charlotte coach Steve Clifford, a coaching consultant for the Nets last season, thinks so.

“Durant and Irving,” Clifford said before the game. “There are a lot of seasoned veteran guys around them, so they play very smart. But it all starts with these two guys. You can’t defend, that’s what NBA basketball is all about, they’re a super high ISO team, they play a lot one-on-one, they’re good at it.

“Kyrie’s pick and roll, if you double-team him, he’ll crush it. It’s more efficient against double teams in terms of , and they’re surrounded by veterans, very good players with high IQs, and they’re playing with a big purpose. must do all

“You can’t give them a fast-break point or make them go to the free-throw line or make them hit the second shot or score with the cutting basket. They’re so good at everything else, so if you get them So there’s nothing they’re not good at.

A tribute a fan deserves

A 12-year-old girl in Nets gear played against a team owned by Michael Jordan and took advantage of meeting Kevin Durant, considered by many (including us) to be the best player in the world. . Considered by many (including us) to be the best player in the world, she has put up the sign that KD is her GOAT, not her MJ.

She was looking for an answer and got an answer…

milestone watch

• The Nets finished December with a 12-1 record. It’s the winningest month in franchise history and also the league’s all-time record for the month. Brooklyn have now won 15 of their last 16 games and 18 of their last 21.
• Kevin Durant recorded his 1,831st 3-pointer, making him the 20th slot player of all time. Move this list up as well.

• Nick Claxton blocked a career-high six shots in two straight games. He is the first player to register six blocks in consecutive games since Brook Lopez recorded for the Bucks in January 2020. He is the first net record since Shawn Bradley in November 1996.
• Yudai Watanabe scored a career-high five steals.

Happy birthday, Edmund.

Being born on New Year’s Eve isn’t as unique as being born on a leap day, February 29th. It’s the same as my birthday at Christmas. It makes for a neat transition from one year to another. Edmund Sumner had a solid game on his 27th birthday on Saturday, scoring eight points on 4-of-5 shooting in 19 minutes. He was then serenaded by his teammates and staff.

Ambience is good.

Joe Harris feeling better

Joe Harris didn’t play at all on the Nets’ three-game road trip with knee pain. Before the game, Jack Vaughan hoped Harris could play in Brooklyn on Monday and said the Nets wing is “feeling better.”

what’s next

Brooklyn heads home for the first game of 2023 Monday vs. San Antonio. Coverage of the San Antonio game will begin at 7:00 PM EST on YES Network.

For another perspective on tonight’s game, in the hivea sister site of the Hornets.