Nets hope to take down Cavs in Paris

Brooklyn continues transcontinental "homestand" Thursday

January 11, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Coming off a 42-point effort vs. Portland, Mikal Bridges hopes to continue his hot shooting in Paris Thursday when the Nets meet the Cavaliers. AP Photo by Thibault Camus

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The Brooklyn Nets are enjoying the sights, smells and sounds of the City of Lights this week.

They’d also like to come back to our borough with a victory.

The Nets will continue their four-game homestand Thursday after traveling more than 3,600 miles via a 7 1/2-hour flight when they “host” the Cleveland Cavaliers at Accor Arena in the NBA’s Paris Game 2024.

“I like Paris a lot. It’s just cool being able to go to Europe, being on this stage,” said Nets center Nic Claxton while he and his teammates prepared for their first game in Paris since a 2008 exhibition contest when the franchise was still based in New Jersey.

Brooklyn (16-21) has lost 11 of its last 14 contests, including Sunday’s disheartening 134-127 overtime loss to Portland at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

Claxton amassed 16 points, 11 rebounds and a season high-tying four blocked shots in the defeat, which dropped the Nets into 10th place in the Eastern Conference standings.

Mikal Bridges poured in a game-high 42 points, including seven in the extra session, but Brooklyn was burned by the Blazers’ Malcolm Brogdon and Anfernee Simons, who combined for 14 of Portland’s 19 points in OT.

“For us not to win this basketball game (is) very disappointing,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn, who was hoping his team would build some momentum following a 124-115 win over Oklahoma City in Brooklyn last Friday night in the homestand opener.

The Nets are the designated home team in Paris, and Claxton wants to enjoy the view while putting Brooklyn back in the win column before the long flight home.

“We can’t take these things for granted,” he noted. “We went to China a few years back, and I know this will be a really good experience for the team. I’m excited. We’ll have a few practice days, a few events. It will be good for us.”

Donovan Mitchell and former Net Jarrett Allen get in some practice time in Paris ahead of their showdown with Brooklyn Thursday. AP Photo by Thibault Camus

Key reserve Day’Ron Shape won’t be along for the trip.

The Nets power forward suffered a knee injury against the Blazers. He underwent an MRI Monday that revealed a hyper-extension in the joint, and is expected to miss at least two weeks after averaging a season-best 10.0 points per contest through Brooklyn’s first four games in January.

Vaughn intimated Sunday that he didn’t have much to say to his struggling unit, which has dropped six of seven since sweeping a home-and-home from league-worst Detroit from Dec. 23-26.

The Nets would like to come back to the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush to host Miami Monday in the homestand finale with a 2-1 mark.

But first they must slow down a Cleveland squad that has won three in a row and eight of its last 11 contests.

The Cavaliers (21-15) closed out a three-game homestand with Sunday’s 117-115 triumph over San Antonio.

Former Nets Jarrett Allen and Caris LeVert led the way for Cleveland, which climbed into sixth place in the East with its recent run.

Allen had 29 points and pulled down 16 boards while LeVert scored 23 points off the bench for the Cavs, who beat Brooklyn at Barclays on Opening Night behind 27 points from Donovan Mitchell.

“I’m excited to play out here in Paris, excited to get the game going,” Mitchell said. “This is dope to be out here at this (Eiffel Tower), man. It’s great here with the whole gang, with the whole crew. Make sure y’all catch us on Thursday.”

The NBA Paris Game 2024 will be televised on NBA TV at 2 p.m. ET.

Though he is practicing, injured Nets guard Ben Simmons won’t play when Brooklyn takes on Cleveland in the NBA’s Paris Game Thursday. AP Photo by Thibault Camus

NOTHING BUT NET: Lonnie Walker IV hasn’t done much for the Nets since returning from a 17-game absence due to a back sprain. The reserve guard went scoreless against both Oklahoma City and Portland to start the homestand, misfiring on all five of his shots, including a trio of 3-point attempts. … Brooklyn point guard Ben Simmons is still recovering from a back injury, but is in Paris and practicing with the team though he is unlikely to play against the Cavs. The Nets still haven’t given an update on when the mercurial playmaker can return to the hardwood. … After hosting the Heat Monday, the Nets will open a three-game road trip Wednesday night in Portland.