Ziare Williams returned just in time for the Nets.
On Thursday night, with the Bucks trailing by one point with less than a minute left, the Nets forced a missed shot from 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Williams grabbed the rebound with 6.1 seconds left. .
The 6-9, No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 draft then made two free throws to give the Nets the lead before Damian Lillard made a desperation 3-pointer.
After missing 12 games and about a month with a knee injury, Williams showed even more success in the game without Noah Clowney (Bucs), helping the Nets to a 113-110 victory over the Bucks.
“That's why we work so hard. It's nothing new,” Williams said Thursday of the final minutes. “Don't overthink it, dude. Just shoot. Honestly, I was happy to be in that position. I love being present in moments like that and playing hard in the big moments. The crowd is screaming. I'm a little rattled. It was fun. I knew it was coming in before I shot it. I'm so confused right now and I miss being out there. Just having a positive mindset and playing the game. I don’t take it for granted.”
The 23-year-old small forward had eight points, six rebounds and a blocked shot in 19 minutes off the bench, posting a plus-12 rating.
He has been part of the team's rebuilding process since the Nets acquired Williams from the Grizzlies in July along with a 2030 second-round pick from Dallas in exchange for the draft rights to center Mamadi Diakité and forward Nemanja Dangovic. They are essential personnel for the development of young people.
He has played in 22 games this season, averaging 8.6 points and 4.5 rebounds while shooting 40% from the field.
If Clowney is out and Cam Johnson is sidelined by injuring his ankle on Williams' late-game rebound, Williams could get more minutes on a team that lacks size, starting Saturday with the 76ers against a 7-footer. He is scheduled to play against Joel Embiid. .
“He made all the winning plays,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Williams. “His energy was contagious. His bias. Obviously, he made some big shots, went 2-of-4 from three, grabbed six rebounds, was all over the place. He was all over the place. A lot of times you just think, “I'll do whatever it takes to help the team win,” but he did that and was a big part of the win. Obviously, the free throw at the end was huge. ”
The Nets saw further defensive progress from Cam Thomas on Thursday.
The star guard was off the bench in his second game since returning from a hamstring injury and had a season-high seven rebounds, grabbed two steals and also drew an offensive foul.
“I'm very proud of him. I think his ball pressure and physicality are better than they were at the beginning of the season, so I'm looking forward to seeing that,” Fernandez said. “I want to see growth, and he's showing that now that he's back from injury. … The rebounding was huge, and all the defensive plays are things we need from him going forward.” It’s a thing.”
Maxwell Lewis will miss Saturday due to a fractured left tibia he sustained in Wednesday's 130-113 loss to the Raptors.
Lewis was carried off the court during the fourth quarter of the Nets' debut game, a 130-113 loss to the Raptors on Wednesday.
Clowney (left hip contusion) and Thomas (left hamstring strain) are listed as questionable. Johnson (right ankle sprain) was listed as questionable.
The win over the Bucks marked the first time the Nets have won twice in a season in Milwaukee since the 2013-14 season.
The Nets held a 27-8 advantage in points not made from turnovers, marking their largest advantage and fewest points allowed in that category this season.
