Nets look to leave blues in Memphis

Eager to resume Western success vs. Grizzlies

December 12, 2024 By john Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Dennis Schröder hopes to help push the Nets past the Grizzlies for the third time in as many meetings this season Friday night in Memphis. AP Photo by Brandon Dill

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Go West, young Nets.

Off to a dismal 4-13 start against Eastern Conference opponents, the youth-oriented, rebuilding Brooklyn Nets have made an early season habit of getting well when they venture toward that other coast.

They’ll try to continue that mind-boggling trend when they visit the Memphis Grizzlies Friday night at FedExForum.

Brooklyn (10-14) has won its first five games out West for the first time in franchise history. They are 6-1 against non-conference opponents overall, including a 2-0 mark thus far vs. the Grizzlies (17-8).

The Nets last visited the “Home of the Blues” on Oct. 30 after losing three of their first four games of the season to teams from the East.

Point guard Dennis Schröder torched the Grizzlies for 33 points and eight assists in that encounter and former Memphis forward Ziaire Williams added 17 points.

Schröder has been Brooklyn’s most reliable player this season, and is fast-emerging as its most attractive to potential trade suitors.

His last performance in Memphis made him the first Net ever to hit at least five 3-pointers, hand out five assists and put up at 25 points or more in three straight games.

“At one point he said, ‘Just give me the ball. I’ll take care of this.,” Brooklyn rookie coach Jordi Fernández said of Schröder following his first career road win.

“That’s what he does. He’s a leader. He puts everybody in place. If he has to score, he scores.”

Fernández’s Nets are 5-8 away from Barclays Center, with those wins coming at Memphis, New Orleans, Sacramento, Golden State and Phoenix.

Schröder did his best to help Brooklyn get a home win against an East opponent on Sunday, putting up 34 points and handing out 10 assists.

But the Nets’ defense failed them down the stretch as Giannis Antetkounmpo and the visiting Milwaukee Bucks rallied for a 118-113 triumph, handing Brooklyn its fourth loss in five games since a three-game winning streak out West.

The Grizzlies are hoping star guard Ja Morant is available for duty when they host the Brooklyn Nets on Friday night. AP Photo by Julio Cortez

In his frustration with giving away a potential win, Fernández voiced his displeasure.

“If our guys [wearing] a Brooklyn Nets jersey don’t play harder defense, they don’t have a place in our roster. And they know it.” he fumed.

Williams, who spent his first three seasons with the Grizzlies, might not be available for Brooklyn’s second visit.

The 6-foot-9 Stanford alum has missed the last three games with a left-knee sprain, but is hopeful to return soon as the Nets are still waiting for him leading scorer Cam Thomas to fill out what has been an injury-decimated rotation.

“Just been doing a lot of simple stuff right now. Not moving too much, but definitely making good progress. Just listening to the training staff,” Williams intimated following Wednesday’s practice.

Reserve forward Noah Clowney, who has been out with an ankle injury since helping the Nets beat Sacramento on Nov. 24, was available for duty last weekend, but Fernández sat him out against the Bucks.

The 6-foot-9 former first-round pick put up a season-high 18 points and drained five 3-pointers against the Kings and should be ready to go in Memphis.

The Southwest Division-leading Grizzlies will be laying in wait for the Nets after winning nine of their last 10 games, including Sunday’s 140-112 rout of the Washington Wizards in our nation’s capital.

Jaren Jackson Jr. poured in 21 points and Scotty Pippen Jr. added 14 and 12 assists for Memphis, which played without All-Star guard Ja Morant due to back soreness.

Morant and shooting guard Desmond Bane are still listed as day-to-day, but both could be back on the hardwood vs. the Nets.

The Nets also beat the Grizzlies in Brooklyn on Nov. 4 behind 20 points apiece from Schröder and Cam Johnson.

Averaging a career-best 18.8 points per game this season, Johnson has put up 26 points in each of his last three contests.

Tip-off in Memphis Friday is slated for 8 p.m.

Nets coach Jordi Fernández has guided his team to an impressive 6-1 record thus far against Western Conference opponents. AP Photo by Heather Khalifa

NOTHING BUT NET: Thomas is nearing his evaluation as he continues to recover from a strained left hamstring that has kept him out since Nov. 25. “I’m doing good, getting better, just taking it day by day,” Thomas said. … After visiting the Grizzlies, the Nets will host NBA-leading Cleveland (21-4) at Barclays on Monday night at 7:30 p.m., welcoming back former coach Kenny Atkinson.