Nets shave magic number to one in Motown

Run past league-worst Pistons to close in on East's sixth seed

April 6, 2023 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Spencer Dinwiddie's shooting touch was off but he handed out a career-high 16 assists Wednesday night in Detroit. AP Photo by Duane Burleson

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The Nets rebounded from a disappointing finish in Brooklyn Tuesday night by opening with the fourth-highest scoring quarter in franchise history Wednesday in Detroit.

Joe Harris hit six 3-pointers during a 47-point outburst out of the gate and Brooklyn cruised to a 123-108 victory over the league-worst Detroit Pistons to shave its magic number for clinching a berth in a first-round playoff series to one in front of 18,313 fans at Little Caesars Arena.

Harris’ 18 points in the opening 12 minutes sparked the Nets (44-36) one night after they suffered a 107-102 loss to Minnesota at Barclays Center.

“We had every guy doing whatever they could to try to contribute to a win,” Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn said.

Spencer Dinwiddie handed out 10 assists in the period as Brooklyn opened a 13-point lead.

“The ball was really moving. Spencer did a great job of facilitating,” Harris said. “We’re playing unselfishly and making the second pass to turn good shots into great ones.”

Dinwiddie finished with a career-best 16 assists despite a 1-for-10 shooting night, Mikal Bridges poured in a team-high 26 points and Royce O’Neale, making his first start since Feb. 9, added 15 points, seven rebounds and eight assists as the Nets won for the fourth time in their last five games.

“Spence was finding everybody and we were all getting ready to shoot,” said Bridges, who had six of Brooklyn’s 36 helpers.

“Whether I’m starting or coming off the bench, my game is not going to change,” added O’Neale after filling in for Dorian Finney-Smith (wrist). “I’ll do what I have to do to help us win.”

Making his first start since Feb. 9, Royce O’Neale helped the Nets shave their magic number for clinching a playoff spot to one. AP Photo by Duane Burleson

Nic Claxton had 19 points and Cam Johnson finished with 15 for Brooklyn, which moved 1 1/2 games ahead of seventh-place Miami (42-37) in the hunt for the coveted sixth seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race with two games to go in the regular season.

The Heat, who have three games left, will have to win Thursday night at Philadelphia to remain alive in the hunt for the No. 6 spot.

Only the top six teams in each conference will qualify for a first-round series while the No. 7-10 seeds will participate in the play-in tournament for the final two spots in the East and West.

R.J. Hampton scored a career-high 27 points for Detroit (16-64), which lost its 11th straight game one night after dropping a 118-105 decision to visiting Miami.

“They’re a good young team. They play fast,” Bridges said of the Pistons, who cut the deficit to four points late in the third quarter before Brooklyn ran away for good in the fourth.

“We knew they made a big run against Miami last night, so we were expecting them to make it tough on us, too,” Bridges added.

Having finished the road portion of their slate with a 21-19 mark, the Nets will head back to Brooklyn Friday to host Orlando.

If the Heat lose Thursday in the City of Brotherly Love, Brooklyn won’t have much to play for against the Magic.

But if Miami wins its third straight against the 76ers, the Nets will have a chance to enjoy a clinch party on their own hardwood this weekend, be it against Orlando or the Sixers on Sunday.

“Take it one game at a time,” Bridges noted. “Take care of our bodies tomorrow and get ready for Orlando.”

Cam Johnson and the Nets might not have to wait until Friday night at Barclays Center to celebrate grabbing the No. 6 seed. AP Photo by Duane Burleson

NOTHING BUT NET: The Nets scored 51 points in the fourth quarter vs. Boston in 2020. They’ve also had a pair of 48-point periods. … Dinwiddie’s 10 assists in the opening quarter were the most by any player in the NBA this year. … Brooklyn is in line to face third-seeded Philadelphia in the opening round of the playoffs. Last year, the Nets had to compete in the play-in tournament. They beat Cleveland to grab the No. 7 seed, but didn’t win a single game against Boston in the first round.