Nets lose late advantage in disappointing defeat to Pacers but benefit in draft positioning.

Nets Suffer Tough Loss to Pacers

The final moments were hard to watch for the Nets.

Despite their struggles, things could’ve turned out differently. On Wednesday night, in front of 16,779 fans at Barclays Center, Brooklyn had a solid lead but ultimately fell short against rival Indiana, losing 115-110.

Brooklyn (15-38) had built an 18-point advantage but faltered in the end. They even had a chance to tie the game, yet rookie Egor Demin’s crucial three-pointer barely missed its mark.

Interestingly, the Nets might have preferred a different outcome. They still sit in fifth place in the lottery standings but find themselves one game behind teams like Washington, Indiana, and New Orleans/Atlanta, who are more or less tied for second through fourth. The Nets are also 1.5 games behind the No. 6 Jazz as they head into a game against Sacramento.

After blowing that 18-point lead, Dayron Sharpe made a key steal and layup with just 38 seconds left, leveling the score at 110. However, Cam Jones hit a three-pointer with seven seconds on the clock. Demin had an opportunity but narrowly missed, allowing Indiana to secure the win from the free-throw line.

Even though Brooklyn outscored Indiana in the fourth quarter (31-20), they struggled beyond the arc, only making 1 of 7 three-point attempts.

The Nets played without three of their starting players. Still, rookie Nolan Traore stepped up, leading the team with 20 points and 8 assists. Sharpe, who filled in for starting center Nick Claxton, delivered a double-double with 19 points and 12 rebounds, while Demin contributed 13 points, five rebounds, and five assists.

Brooklyn’s first points came midway through the first quarter. After a shaky start, they managed a 12-2 run, putting them ahead 25-11.

When Indiana’s Ben Shepherd scored a layup off Kobe Brown, the game stood at 74-64.

Brooklyn rallied with eight consecutive points to stay competitive, and Sharpe found Ziare Williams for a three-pointer, giving the Nets their largest lead. They briefly led 86-70 after a pass from Traore with 4:31 left in the third, but they couldn’t maintain that advantage as it slipped away.

The Nets faced a stiff challenge, allowing a significant deficit that spread into the later quarters. Indiana, with a 3-pointer from Peter, tied the game at 97 before ultimately taking the lead with another three from Potter, making it 100-97 with 7:11 remaining.

Traore managed to tie it again at 105 with a tough shot in the lane, and Demin’s corner three-pointer briefly gave them a 108-106 edge with 2:04 to play.