Nets’ Thomas: ‘We just have to do it’

Guard eager to guide Brooklyn toward play-in tournament

March 12, 2024 John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie hopes to ride Cam Thomas' hot hand as Brooklyn continues its six-game road trip. AP Photo by Sue Ogrocki

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A lot has been made of the Nets’ ongoing six-game road trip and stretch of 10 games away from home in their next 11.

Cam Thomas doesn’t want to hear it.

“If we want to get in the play-in, we just have to do it,” the shooting guard insisted after scoring 29 points during Brooklyn’s 120-101 victory in Cleveland on Sunday in front of 19,432 fans at Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse.

“That’s all there is to it,” Thomas added.

The Nets (26-39) were coming off back-to-back losses in Detroit and Charlotte, respectively, to begin their odyssey, which followed a hope-inspiring 3-1 homestand at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

Thomas made sure their wouldn’t be a third straight loss against a short-handed Cavaliers team that was without Net killer Donovan Mitchell and several other key pieces.

“This game, I had to get out of my comfort zone, get the team fired up and lead the guys by example,” he said. “Cleveland always tries to take away the mid-range a little bit, but with certain lineups, I can be a little more aggressive.”

Mikal Bridges rediscovered his shooting touch in Cleveland, throwing down two of his 25 points in the Nets’ win Sunday. AP Photo by Sue Ogrocki

In 31 scintillating minutes, Thomas went 9-of-19 from the floor, including 5-of-7 from 3-point range, grabbed seven rebounds, handed out five assists and picked up a steal to post a game-best plus-27 differential.

“Cam displayed it all tonight, it wasn’t just his scoring, he was contributing in other ways,” Nets interim coach Kevin Ollie said as his team prepared to visit Orlando on Wednesday.

“We want him to be a masterpiece on offense and a masterpiece on defense. Just his toughness, his resiliency, it means the world for us.”

Thomas, who put up 31 points in Charlotte Saturday after returning from an ankle injury that had kept him out since Feb. 26, may be just the elixir Brooklyn needs to seriously push 10th-place Atlanta (29-35) for the final spot in the Eastern Conference’s play-in tournament.

Bidding for their sixth consecutive postseason appearance, the Nets are 3 1/2 games behind the Hawks with 17 games remaining, but do own a head-to-head tiebreaker based on their 2-1 regular-season series win over Atlanta.

Brooklyn can’t afford to sag on the road or blame its difficult schedule, which saw it play back-to-backs three times in February and once already in March.

“I’m tired of all the talking about energy after games,” Thomas said.

The Nets’ leading scorer certainly wasn’t alone in helping his team get off the schneid on this extended trip.

Mikal Bridges, who went 18-for-55 from the field in his previous four games, poured in 25 points and matched Thomas with five shots made from beyond the arc.

“It was good for Mikal to see some shots go in,” Ollie noted. “Just taking the pressure off himself and stepping up. He puts so much work in, so I know those seeds that he’s planted are gonna bloom.”

Dennis Schroder finished with 17 points and eight assists and Nic Claxton had 16 points and 10 boards for Brooklyn, which is trying to win consecutive contests for the first time since sweeping a two-game set from the Hawks at Barclays from Feb. 29-March 2.

That series kept the Nets in the postseason conversation.

Thomas hopes to drive them back into the playoffs, with his words and his play.

“We’re in the stage of the season where we have to get wins, so everybody has to do something they’re not used to, and for me it’s just being communicative,” he said.

Nets center Nic Claxton couldn’t quite block a shot, but did help Brooklyn to its first win in three tries on its extended road trip. AP Photo by Sue Ogrocki

NOTHING BUT NET: After visiting Orlando Wednesday, the Nets will be in Indiana Saturday before “hosting” a neutral site game against San Antonio at the Moody Center in Austin, Texas on Sunday. Brooklyn’s next home contest is March 19 vs. New Orleans, then the Nets will hit the road on a four-game trip. … Claxton didn’t block a shot in Cleveland Sunday, marking the first time in seven games he didn’t register a swat. He ranks seventh in the NBA with 2.1 blocks per contest. … Dorian Finney-Smith had 11 points against the Cavs as the Nets placed all five starters in double figures in scoring. … Lonnie Walker IV missed Saturday’s game in Charlotte, but did return in Cleveland, putting up four points on 1-of-6 shooting in 14 minutes off the bench.