The Brooklyn Nets lost their preseason debut 129-126 to the Los Angeles Lakers. Many familiar and new faces impressed on the court, although the most standout performance came from 3rd-year man Cam Thomas. The Nets kept things competitive early but seemed to lose control. Brooklyn battled their way back before the Lakers eventually put them down. Check out the notable performances below.
Cam Thomas Erupts in Brooklyn Nets’ 1st Preseason Loss to the Los Angeles Lakers
Should Cam Thomas Start Over Spencer Dinwiddie?
Cam Thomas was on fire. He made it clear that he is one of the Nets’ best scorers. He led the team with 26 points on 64% field goal percentage and a blazing 57% on threes. 17 of his points came in the third quarter. Thomas also shot 100% at the free-throw line and recorded two steals and two rebounds. Thomas played the most amount of minutes on the team (22), so it is not too big of a surprise that he was the leading scorer. However, his impressive performance begs the question, should he start at shooting guard over Spencer Dinwiddie?
Dinwiddie has been predicted to be a starter for Brooklyn, and his play today did not discredit that prediction. Like Thomas, he was on fire from three-point land. Dinwiddie made four of five threes, shooting an unbelievable 80% in 14 minutes of play. If he continues to shoot like that, it will be hard for Thomas to take his spot in the lineup. Regardless, both Brooklyn guards are showing great promise as secondary scorers for the Nets.
Ben Simmons is Back for the Brooklyn Nets
The highly anticipated Brooklyn Nets revival of Ben Simmons has finally been initiated, and he did not disappoint. Right off the bat, Simmons scored Brooklyn’s first points with an aggressive drive to the basket. He did not shoot any three-pointers during the game, but he did make 2 free throws. Simmons had a total of 10 points, three assists, one rebound, and a steal shooting 66% from the field. He played 14 minutes for the night. He already looks like he is in better condition than last year. His assertiveness and movement is a good sign for the Nets.
Lonnie Walker Shows Promise Off the Bench
Lonnie Walker IV scored 14 points in 20 minutes of action to go with two steals. The only downside to his time on the court was his poor three-point shooting. He went one for five on threes. This is nothing to worry about though, as it will take some time to get the rust off. After all, this is the first preseason game of the NBA season.
The Los Angeles Lakers showed their might and depth. Austin Reaves led the starters with 18 points, while Rui Hachimura scored an impressive 19 in 20 minutes off the bench. Of course, LeBron James was the floor general he usually is. He recorded 5 assists, 10 points, 3 rebounds, a steal, and a block in 16 minutes. D’Angelo Russell was right with him. Russell recorded 14 points and 6 assists in 16 minutes.
The Last Word: Brooklyn Makes an Impressive Preseason Debut
No NBA team’s first preseason game will be perfect, and the Brooklyn Nets were no exception. The Nets did show glimpses of a team that will be competitive and tough to beat though. The Nets’ next preseason test comes against the Philadelphia 76ers on Monday, October 16th. Tip-off is at 6:30 p.m. EST.
