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Nets fall to Hawks as early hole, turnovers and Noah Clowney ejection swing game

C.J. Holmes, New York Daily News on

Published in Basketball

The Nets fell to the Atlanta Hawks, 141-107, Friday night at Barclays Center, dropping to 18-59. It was also the first game after the Nets announced Michael Porter Jr. and rookie Danny Wolf were ruled out for the rest of the season.

Brooklyn finished the night tied with the Indiana Pacers for the second-best lottery odds. Six Nets finished in double figures, led by Nic Claxton, who had 16 points, five rebounds and two assists.

Atlanta took control early. The Hawks hit two of their first three 3-point attempts and jumped out to a 6-0 lead in less than a minute on baskets from Onyeka Okongwu and CJ McCollum. Nets head coach Jordi Fernández called timeout before the first minute was complete. Brooklyn did not score its first basket until the 9:23 mark of the opening quarter and was already down eight at that point.

The Hawks continued to build the lead. Brooklyn trailed by as many as 18 in the first quarter, but the Nets got a lift from the bench, led by Malachi Smith. Smith’s first 3-pointer cut the deficit to 15 and the Nets followed with stops and transition chances. Josh Minott made a defensive play late that led to a 59-foot Smith heave at the buzzer. The shot went in but was waived off because Smith released it after time expired.

Smith stayed aggressive to start the second quarter and opened the period with another 3 to cut the lead to seven. He scored 12 points in his first eight minutes off the bench, finishing with 15 in 17 minutes, and helped Brooklyn find some needed firepower briefly.

Atlanta responded with another burst fueled by Brooklyn turnovers. The Hawks went on a 12-2 run to push the lead back to 13 with 6:50 left in the second quarter, forcing another Nets timeout.

The Nets’ first-half problems were clear by halftime. Atlanta shot 55.8% in the first half and led 71-55 at the break. McCollum had 16 points, Jalen Johnson had 13, and Nickeil Alexander-Walker had 10. Brooklyn committed 13 turnovers in the first half, which Atlanta converted into 23 points. The Hawks also went 10 for 19 from 3-point range in the half.

 

Brooklyn trimmed into the deficit in the third quarter, but the game shifted again after Noah Clowney was ejected. With the Nets trailing 84-71 midway through the period, Clowney and Mouhamed Gueye received double technicals following a scuffle. Clowney was then assessed another technical foul for arguing with an official and was ejected. He finished with 12 points and four rebounds.

Atlanta maintained control the rest of the way. The Hawks pushed the lead back to 20 with 8:47 left in the fourth quarter and closed without trouble. Tre Scott, who signed a 10-day contract on Thursday, played late. He scored six points on 2-for-3 shooting.

Seven Hawks finished in double figures, paced by McCollum, who had 25 points and seven assists.

Atlanta turned 20 Brooklyn turnovers into 35 points and made 20 3-pointers on a 50% clip.

The Nets will return to action Sunday against the Washington Wizards at Barclays Center.


©2026 New York Daily News. Visit at nydailynews.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.

 

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