Roaring Pistons pass Nets at Barclays

Detroit takes advantage of depleted Brooklyn unit

January 9, 2025 By John Torenli, Sports Editor Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Noah Clowney and the Nets battled hard, but weren't able to overcome the Detroit Pistons in Brooklyn Wednesday night. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

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Armed with only eight healthy bodies, the injury-depleted Brooklyn Nets simply ran out of gas against the surprising Detroit Pistons.

Noah Clowney scored a career-high 29 points, but the Nets ultimately proved no match for a Pistons squad that has gone from the worst in the NBA to battling for a postseason bid in Wednesday’s 113-98 defeat in front of 16,098 fans at Downtown’s Barclays Center.

“Nobody likes to lose,” ceded rookie Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernández after the Nets completed an 0-3 homestand and fell for the sixth time in seven games overall.

Brooklyn has also dropped seven straight on the corner of Atlantic and Flatbush.

“I think the intention was there,” Fernández added. “I think our guys fought. It’s easier said than done. Those guys are playing against the best athletes in the world. … You have to walk the walk. That’s how you learn.”

Clowney showed encouraging signs of how well he’s adapting to Fernández’s learning curve.

The 6-foot-9 second-year forward out of Alabama took the lead role in Brooklyn’s latest hard-“fought” defeat. Clowney sank 9-of-20 shots, including five 3-pointers, ripped down six boards, handed out three assists and picked up a pair of steals in 37 rugged minutes.

The former first-round pick, selected 21st overall in 2023, spearheaded an otherwise balanced attack that saw six Nets reach double figures in scoring.

“I think the good thing is, he’s showing us what he’s able to do,” Fernández said of Clowney, who only had one of Brooklyn’s 15 turnovers. “He’s showing his teammates. When we have our group back, then I’m totally comfortable calling sets for him. It’s just making our group better.”

With Cam Thomas (hamstring), Cam Johnson (ankle), D’Angelo Russell (shin), Trendon Watford (hamstring), Ben Simmons (back/calf), Day’Ron Sharpe (illness) and Dariq Whitehead (concussion) unavailable for duty, Clowney made sure the Nets hung tough into the second half.

His dunk with 5:37 to go in the third period pulled the Nets (13-24) within six.

But the Pistons (19-18), who went a dismal 14-68 last season, including an NBA-record 28 straight losses, strutted their stuff thereafter, racing to a 91-70 advantage entering the final 12 minutes.

Clowney canned a 25-footer off a nifty feed from fill-in point guard Tyrese Martin to open the fourth-quarter scoring and the Nets made the game respectable by outscoring Detroit, 28-22, down the stretch.

“Again, I really liked the fight,” Fernández said. “We knew that their physicality would be high. … I believe we have to be one percent better and we will. Keep fighting until the end … That keep-fighting mentality is what we want to be.”

Malik Beasley poured in 23 points and Simone Fontecchio added 17 off the bench for the Pistons, who have won a season-high five in a row and eight of nine, thrusting them above .500 this late in a campaign for the first time since 2018.

Malik Beasley rises up for two of his 23 points in Detroit’s runaway win at Downtown’s Barclays Center Wednesday. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

With their franchise in full rebuild mode, if not complete renovation, the Nets may be heartened by Detroit’s turnaround.

Especially if Clowney proves he can be just as productive when Thomas and Johnson, the Nets’ two top-two scorers, return.

“It’s a good feeling. Same way I feel confidence about playing, (Fernández) puts confidence in me. Telling me to keep shooting even when I have bad stretches,” Clowney revealed.

Martin finished with 12 points, a game-high 10 rebounds and four assists despite adjusting to a new position.

He did turn the ball over four times and the Nets found themselves turning tail and chasing the Pistons for most of the night after yielding a season-high 38 fast break points.

“I’m putting him at the point guard to start and I know it’s a tough situation because he’s not used to it,” Fernández said of Martin. “I don’t care about his turnovers because it’s me putting him in that situation.”

Nic Claxton scored 14 points, rookie Tosan Evbuomwan led the reserves with 13, Ziaire Williams had 11 and Keon Johnson added 10 for Brooklyn, which faces the daunting task of embarking on a season-high six-game West Coast swing despite its limited roster.

That trip begins Friday night at 9 p.m. ET in Denver against reigning NBA Most Valuable Player Nikola Jokić and the Nuggets.

“I feel good because I care about my group. I’m not worried about the things I can’t control,” Fernández noted defiantly. “We’re going to go out and play a team that has won a championship and has the best player in the world.

“If we get players back, great. If not, that’s something I can’t control.”

Tyrese Martin may get another shot at running the point when the Nets embark on a six-game West Coast swing Friday night in Denver. AP Photo by Frank Franklin II

NOTHING BUT NET: Johnson will apparently join Brooklyn on its extended trip despite his injured status. “We believe (he’ll travel with us), but we’re not going to rush anything,” Fernández said when asked if the veteran forward would be available to play soon. … The Nets will also visit Utah, Portland, play both Los Angeles teams and visit Oklahoma City before returning to Brooklyn to host the East River rival Knicks at Barclays on Jan. 21.