The return of Nets rookie Egor Demin to Utah turned into a remarkable night.
This in-state lottery pick, a former BYU player, put on a stellar performance, guiding the Nets to a 109-99 win against the Jazz in front of 18,186 fans at the Delta Center. This victory broke a daunting seven-game losing streak—the worst in the league—and marked the team’s first win without their leading scorer, Michael Porter Jr.
Demin stepped up impressively, notching his first double-double with 25 points and 10 rebounds—both career highs—and adding four assists. He also landed six three-pointers, becoming the first Nets rookie to achieve this in multiple games. His 34-game streak of successful 3-point shots set a new NBA rookie record.
In this game, Demin joined Nolan Traore and Danny Wolfe in the starting lineup, a noteworthy event as it was the first time the Nets had three rookies starting since December 18, 2021. Wolfe contributed 14 points with five rebounds, while Traore added seven points and six assists.
Off the bench, Cam Thomas scored 21 points, and Dayron Sharp pitched in 16 points along with nine rebounds, taking advantage of Utah’s smaller lineup.
The Jazz were struggling too, having lost nine of their last ten games without key players Lauri Markkanen and Jusuf Nurkic. Still, for the Nets, the victory was a much-needed boost.
“This means a lot,” Demin said in a post-game interview on the court. “It’s the first time we’ve won a second game in a series. Winning without our big guy, who’s such a key part of our team, is significant. It feels even better coming back to my hometown.” He shared how special it was to feel the support from those who matter to him, reflecting on his connection to BYU.
The Nets held a narrow lead of 30-26 before going on an impressive 22-6 run that bridged the first and second quarters. During this stretch, Thomas scored 12 consecutive points, helping the team pull ahead to 46-36 after a basket by Nic Claxton, who received a pass from Jalen Wilson.
Later in the first half, Wolf increased the lead to 52-38, taking control on offense.
However, the second half got a bit rocky, as the Nets allowed a 16-2 run right after the break. Jazz rookie Ace Bailey, a lottery selection from Rutgers, evened the score at one point.
In the fourth quarter, after Bailey’s free throw put the Jazz ahead, the Nets responded with an 8-0 run and maintained the lead for the rest of the game. Thomas assisted Wilson for a crucial three-pointer that put the Nets up 91-83.
A few late three-pointers from Demin pushed his total past the double-digit mark at 100-90, sealing the game.
Now, the Nets (13-34) find themselves in fifth place in the lottery race, trailing Washington and Utah by one game each.
