Cam Thomas scores 37 points, Nets hold off Rockets 106-104
NEW YORK (AP) Cam Thomas scored 37 points and the Brooklyn Nets outlasted the Houston Rockets 106-104 on Saturday night to snap a three-game losing streak.
The Nets led by 28 points in the second quarter, with the Rockets rallying in the fourth quarter to cut it to one with seven seconds left.
Brooklyn was outscored 34-18 in the final period and committed seven turnovers, but remained composed following a fourth-quarter meltdown Sunday in Los Angeles when the Clippers scored 22 straight points to steal a victory.
Thomas, who shot 11 for 19 from the field and made 12 of 13 free throws, found some positives despite the near meltdown.
“We just got to stay locked in and try to put teams away early instead of giving away some possessions,” Thomas said. “It is definitely a positive that if we come out like we did, come out aggressive, fast, defend really well, that’s what can happen against any team we play.”
Mikal Bridges and Dorian Finney-Smith each had 19 points, and Nic Claxton added 10 points and 13 rebounds for Brooklyn. The Nets never trailed.
“We just relaxed and they came out and played harder than us,” Bridges said.
Finney-Smith, who shot 7 for 12 from the field, including 4 for 8 from the 3-point line, left because of a sore left ankle in the third quarter and did not return.
Jalen Green, Dillon Brooks and Cam Whitmore each had 19 points for the Rockets, who were on the backend of a back-to-back and have lost seven of 10 games.
“We just could have played hard from the start, we can’t be lackadaisical from the start,” Whitmore said.
Brooklyn appeared to have sealed it after a Dennis Smith Jr.’s free throw extended the lead to 107-97 with 19 seconds.
Sengun was fouled under the basket and converted both shots and Amen Thompson stole Royce O’Neal’s inbound pass and hit a 3-pointer from the corner to make it 103-102.
Thomas then made a pair of free throws and VanVleet was fouled on the ensuing possession, making one free throw to cut it to 105-102.
Segun made it 105-104 after he was fouled while trying to recover the ball after VanVleet missed a free throw. Dinwiddie was fouled on the inbound play and made one free throw.
“We’ve been in these close games and I never looked at it as a negative,” Nets coach Jacque Vaughn said.
UP NEXT
Rockets: Host the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night.
Nets: Host Utah on Monday night.
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| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12:00 |  | Alperen Sengun vs. Nic Claxton (Spencer Dinwiddie gains possession) | ||
| 11:41 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point driving layup | 0-2 |
| 11:24 |  | Jalen Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:21 | | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | ||
| 11:11 | | Jalen Green shooting foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 11:11 | | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 0-3 |
| 11:11 | | +1 | Mikal Bridges makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 0-4 |
| 11:00 | | Nic Claxton personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 10:52 | | Jalen Green misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 10:49 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 10:43 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cam Thomas assists) | 0-6 |
| 10:31 | | +2 | Jeff Green makes two point driving finger roll layup (Fred VanVleet assists) | 2-6 |
| 10:17 | | Jalen Green personal foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 10:09 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 2-8 |
| 10:09 | | Cam Whitmore shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 10:09 | | Cam Thomas misses regular free throw 1 of 1 | ||
| 10:07 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 9:51 | | Jeff Green turnover (bad pass) (Cam Thomas steals) | ||
| 9:43 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 2-11 |
| 9:41 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 9:19 | | +2 | Fred VanVleet makes two point driving reverse layup | 4-11 |
| 9:09 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 4-13 |
| 8:49 | | Mikal Bridges blocks Cam Whitmore's two point cutting dunk | ||
| 8:47 | | Cam Whitmore offensive rebound | ||
| 8:46 | | +2 | Cam Whitmore makes two point putback layup | 6-13 |
| 8:32 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point driving floating jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 6-15 |
| 8:15 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point driving hook shot (Fred VanVleet assists) | 8-15 |
| 8:11 | | Mikal Bridges turnover (double dribble) | ||
| 7:54 | | +2 | Dillon Brooks makes two point cutting dunk (Alperen Sengun assists) | 10-15 |
| 7:50 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 7:42 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Mikal Bridges draws the foul) | ||
| 7:30 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 10-17 |
| 7:06 | | Jeff Green misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 7:05 | | Cam Whitmore offensive rebound | ||
| 7:05 | | Nic Claxton shooting foul (Cam Whitmore draws the foul) | ||
| 7:05 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 11-17 |
| 7:05 | | +1 | Cam Whitmore makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 12-17 |
| 6:52 | | Cam Thomas misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:49 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 6:42 | | Cam Whitmore misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:39 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 6:31 | | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 12-19 |
| 6:19 | | Dillon Brooks misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 6:17 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 6:11 | | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 6:11 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:01 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point driving floating jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 12-21 |
| 5:52 | | Mikal Bridges personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 5:44 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point driving floating jump shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 14-21 |
| 5:29 | | +3 | Cam Thomas makes three point pullup jump shot | 14-24 |
| 5:14 | | Jeff Green misses three point jump shot | ||
| 5:11 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 5:06 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point running layup (Nic Claxton assists) | 14-26 |
| 5:06 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:45 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Mikal Bridges steals) | ||
| 4:29 | | +2 | Mikal Bridges makes two point pullup jump shot (Nic Claxton assists) | 14-28 |
| 4:02 | | Jae'Sean Tate misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 3:59 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:50 | | Cam Thomas misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:48 | | Cam Whitmore defensive rebound | ||
| 3:33 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 3:30 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:24 | | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point pullup jump shot | 14-31 |
| 3:00 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point driving layup | ||
| 2:58 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 2:45 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:40 | | Alperen Sengun defensive rebound | ||
| 2:29 | | Dillon Brooks misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 2:26 | | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | ||
| 2:22 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point running dunk (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 14-33 |
| 2:22 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 1:59 | | Jock Landale misses two point turnaround hook shot | ||
| 1:56 | | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | ||
| 1:50 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:46 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 1:32 | | Aaron Holiday misses two point fadeaway jump shot | ||
| 1:29 | | Jock Landale offensive rebound | ||
| 1:28 | | Jock Landale misses two point putback layup | ||
| 1:25 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 1:11 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | ||
| 1:09 | | Aaron Holiday defensive rebound | ||
| 1:07 | | Aaron Holiday turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | ||
| 0:42 | | +2 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes two point driving layup | 14-35 |
| 0:35 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:32 | | Lonnie Walker IV defensive rebound | ||
| 0:15 | | Mikal Bridges misses two point driving floating jump shot | ||
| 0:12 | | Fred VanVleet defensive rebound | ||
| 0:08 | | Lonnie Walker IV shooting foul (Fred VanVleet draws the foul) | ||
| 0:08 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 15-35 |
| 0:08 | | Fred VanVleet misses regular free throw 2 of 2 | ||
| 0:05 | | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | ||
| 0:02 | | Cam Thomas misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 0:02 | | Jae'Sean Tate defensive rebound | ||
| 0:00 | | End of period |
| Time | Team | Play | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11:38 | | Jalen Green misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 11:34 | | Dennis Smith Jr. defensive rebound | ||
| 11:24 | | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:20 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 11:13 | | Dennis Smith Jr. misses three point jump shot | ||
| 11:09 | | Nic Claxton offensive rebound | ||
| 11:06 | | Jock Landale personal foul (Loose ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 10:57 | | Cam Thomas offensive foul (Charge) (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 10:57 | | Cam Thomas turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:48 | | Jock Landale turnover (bad pass) (Dennis Smith Jr. steals) | ||
| 10:46 | | Dennis Smith Jr. offensive foul (Aaron Holiday draws the foul) | ||
| 10:46 | | Dennis Smith Jr. turnover (offensive foul) | ||
| 10:33 | | +2 | Aaron Holiday makes two point driving layup (Jock Landale assists) | 17-35 |
| 10:12 | | Aaron Holiday personal foul (Lonnie Walker IV draws the foul) | ||
| 10:06 | | Jock Landale shooting foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 10:06 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 17-36 |
| 10:06 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 17-37 |
| 9:45 | | Jeff Green misses two point cutting layup | ||
| 9:45 | | Jock Landale offensive rebound | ||
| 9:45 | | Cam Thomas personal foul (Jock Landale draws the foul) | ||
| 9:40 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 9:26 | | Lonnie Walker IV misses two point stepback jump shot | ||
| 9:23 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 9:15 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving layup | ||
| 9:12 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 9:07 | | +2 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes two point running reverse layup | 17-39 |
| 8:56 | | Fred VanVleet turnover (lost ball) (Lonnie Walker IV steals) | ||
| 8:51 | | +2 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes two point running alley-oop dunk (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 17-41 |
| 8:37 | | Fred VanVleet misses three point stepback jump shot | ||
| 8:32 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 8:18 | | Royce O'Neale turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 8:05 | | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (Jalen Green draws the foul) | ||
| 8:05 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 18-41 |
| 8:05 | | +1 | Jalen Green makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 19-41 |
| 7:48 | | +3 | Cam Thomas makes three point jump shot (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 19-44 |
| 7:33 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (bad pass) (Dorian Finney-Smith steals) | ||
| 7:26 | | +3 | Royce O'Neale makes three point pullup jump shot (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 19-47 |
| 7:12 | | Dorian Finney-Smith technical foul (Defensive three second) | ||
| 7:12 | | +1 | Fred VanVleet makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 20-47 |
| 7:00 | | Jalen Green misses two point driving hook shot | ||
| 6:58 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 6:57 | | Alperen Sengun misses two point putback layup | ||
| 6:56 | | Rockets offensive rebound | ||
| 6:56 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 6:52 | | +2 | Alperen Sengun makes two point turnaround hook shot (Amen Thompson assists) | 22-47 |
| 6:32 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 22-49 |
| 6:16 | | +3 | Cam Whitmore makes three point jump shot (Dillon Brooks assists) | 25-49 |
| 6:04 | | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 25-52 |
| 6:02 | | Rockets 60 second timeout | ||
| 5:52 | | Amen Thompson turnover (offensive goaltending) | ||
| 5:40 | | Amen Thompson blocks Cam Thomas's two point pullup jump shot | ||
| 5:39 | | Rockets defensive rebound | ||
| 5:23 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point stepback jump shot (Alperen Sengun assists) | 28-52 |
| 4:59 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses two point driving layup | ||
| 4:57 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 4:49 | | Dillon Brooks turnover (lost ball) (Mikal Bridges steals) | ||
| 4:46 | | Cam Thomas turnover (out of bounds bad pass) | ||
| 4:35 | | +3 | Jalen Green makes three point pullup jump shot | 31-52 |
| 4:33 | | Nets 60 second timeout | ||
| 4:20 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | ||
| 4:19 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:19 | | Fred VanVleet personal foul (Loose ball) (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | ||
| 4:06 | | Fred VanVleet shooting foul (Dorian Finney-Smith draws the foul) | ||
| 4:06 | | Dorian Finney-Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | ||
| 4:06 | | Nets offensive rebound | ||
| 4:06 | | +1 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-53 |
| 3:51 | | Nic Claxton blocks Alperen Sengun's two point driving layup | ||
| 3:49 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 3:30 | | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving reverse layup | 31-55 |
| 3:21 | | Jalen Green misses three point pullup jump shot | ||
| 3:20 | | Alperen Sengun offensive rebound | ||
| 3:20 | | Dorian Finney-Smith personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 3:13 | | Amen Thompson misses three point jump shot | ||
| 3:11 | | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | ||
| 2:57 | | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:53 | | Jalen Green defensive rebound | ||
| 2:45 | | Alperen Sengun misses three point jump shot | ||
| 2:40 | | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | ||
| 2:40 | | Dillon Brooks personal foul (Cam Thomas draws the foul) | ||
| 2:40 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 31-56 |
| 2:40 | | +1 | Cam Thomas makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 31-57 |
| 2:26 | | Spencer Dinwiddie personal foul (Alperen Sengun draws the foul) | ||
| 2:22 | | Cam Thomas shooting foul (Dillon Brooks draws the foul) | ||
| 2:22 | | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 32-57 |
| 2:22 | | +1 | Dillon Brooks makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 33-57 |
| 2:08 | | +3 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 33-60 |
| 1:56 | | Alperen Sengun turnover (lost ball) (Nic Claxton steals) | ||
| 1:54 | |