Cam Johnson goes off for 34 points as shorthanded Nets pull out tight win over Hornets
The status of leading scorer Cam Thomas gradually getting downgraded throughout the day, from available to probable to questionable to — 20 minutes before tipoff — out seemed ominous for the Nets.They were already shorthanded with center Nic Claxton sidelined.
They’d already lost three consecutive games, too.A near-.500 start, more promising than their rebuilding outlook would’ve suggested back in early October, had quickly started to unravel.But the Nets found a way to replicate Thomas’ production — with Cam Johnson pouring in a season-high 34 points on 11-for-20 shooting — and relied on a balanced offense to overcome an ugly start against the Hornets, capitalize on Charlotte’s 23 turnovers and escape with a 116-115 win Tuesday night as the NBA Cup returned to Barclays Center.
Jalen Wilson, making his first start of the season in place of Thomas, finished with 17 points, while Ben Simmons scored a season-high 10 and finished two rebounds shy of a double-double.Brooklyn (6-9) still needed to navigate some chaos in the final two minutes, even after Trendon Watford scored seven consecutive points for the Nets to give them a five-point lead with 38 seconds left.Brandon Miller hit a jumper and Cody Martin blocked Watford to give Charlotte a chance to tie with a 3 in the final seconds.
But Miller’s contested heave didn’t hit the rim.Thomas’ absence was a last-minute surprise, with head coach Jordi Fernandez acknowledging pregame that he thought the star guard was “good” but wanting to see what happened when he warmed up.At that point, Thomas was listed as probable due to lower back tightness.
Less than two hours later, he was out of the Nets’ lineup for the first time this season, and they needed to adjust.Johnson remained at the center of that throughout the night, and his sixth game of the year of 20-plus points matched his total from all of last season.The wing, after being limited by injuries at the start and end of last season, has b...