:quality(70)/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/tronc/O64MFGJFL5FSHM53YTSN4GUXMM.jpg "Nets snap dropping skid in model by blowing out the Warmth in Miami in must-win for playoff seeding")
It was a sport the Nets needed to have.
And so they flew right down to South Seaside and took it.
The stakes have been better Saturday night time at FTX Area than they’ve been at any level this season: Win and leapfrog the Miami Warmth within the standings for sole possession of the Jap Convention’s ultimate assured playoff seed.
Lose and the hole between the Nets and Warmth would widen, shifting Brooklyn nearer to a sudden-death play-in event actuality no playoff hopeful desires to dwell.
And after 5 straight losses, together with 4 in a row at residence, the Nets secured a signature victory in a 129-100 romp over the Warmth on Saturday. It marked each the biggest margin of victory and probably the most factors scored towards the Warmth in franchise historical past.
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The Nets have swept the Warmth within the season collection, 4-0.
It was a essential victory as a result of the worst of the Nets’ hellacious post-All-Star break schedule has handed — save for the season finale at residence towards a championship-contending Philadelphia 76ers crew.
The Nets now have the second-easiest remaining schedule. They play the Orlando Magic within the second leg of a back-to-back on Sunday, then play six of their final seven video games at Barclays Heart.
Nets head coach Jacque Vaughn, nevertheless, doesn’t wish to look that far down the highway. His message to the crew had been to concentrate on the duty of the day.
On Saturday, that meant securing a victory in a must-win sport. Towards a Warmth crew that had gained 4 of its final 5 and 7 of its final 10, the Nets have been alleged to have their work minimize out for them.
And early into the night time, it regarded like Brooklyn’s dropping streak was headed for loss No. 6. Miami made 13 of its first 16 shot makes an attempt and jumped out to an early 14-point lead.
Halfway by the second quarter, a flip switched. The Nets began getting stops and the hot-shooting Warmth cooled off.
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Brooklyn held Miami to only 31 factors within the second half and simply 13 factors within the fourth quarter.
All 5 Nets starters scored in double figures, led by Mikal Bridges, who completed with 27 factors and 7 assists. Cam Johnson broke free from a taking pictures hunch and hit 5 threes for 23 factors, and Nic Claxton added 14 factors and 10 rebounds, together with an alley-oop tomahawk poster dunk over Warmth ahead Caleb Martin.
Spencer Dinwiddie tallied 15 factors and 9 assists, and reserve guard Edmond Sumner stepped in for the absent Seth Curry (private causes) and contributed 12 factors off the bench.
The Nets led by as many as 30 within the fourth quarter for one in all their most convincing victories for the reason that Feb. 9 NBA commerce deadline.
Thursday’s victory moved the Nets a half-game forward of the Warmth for sole possession of the Jap Convention’s No. 6 seed.
The win strikes the Nets out of the play-in event with solely eight video games remaining on the schedule.
The Nets are additionally solely a game-and-a-half behind the Knicks, who maintain the East’s No. 5 seed and personal the fourth-lightest remaining schedule within the NBA.
