March 7, 2026; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Danis Jenkins (24) is defended by Brooklyn Nets forward Zier Williams (1) and center Dayron Sharp (20) in the second half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-Imagn Image The Brooklyn Nets spent Saturday night pulling off a miraculous comeback win over the best team in the Eastern Conference.
The Memphis Grizzlies spent the evening blowing a sizable lead after Ja Morant cited an elbow injury and team status.
The Nets will look for their fourth straight win this season on Monday night when they host the Grizzlies.
Brooklyn has not won back-to-back games since home wins over the Washington Wizards and Chicago Bulls on February 7-9. After that win, the Nets went on a 10-game losing streak, marking their longest skid since an 11-game slide from Jan. 23-February. December 12, 2022
The Nets suffered seven double-digit losses on their skid and suffered another loss before erasing a 23-point deficit and winning 107-105 against the host Detroit Pistons. Brooklyn trailed 77-54 with 8:18 left in the third quarter, but ended the skid by outscoring the Pistons 53-28 the remainder of the game.
The Nets outscored Detroit 61-43 in the second half and allowed 32.5% shooting over the final two quarters. Brooklyn’s defense improved after giving up 66 and 55 points in the second half of back-to-back double-digit losses at Miami on Tuesday and Thursday.
“(You) have to keep playing your best,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez said. “(It was) resilience, we found the energy at the right time. Defensively, if you look at 43 points allowed in the first half, you give yourself a chance to win. So we found a way. I’m proud of the growth. (We) played against a really good team and were able to fight until the end.”
Brooklyn finished the game up 34-15, completing the fifth-largest comeback in franchise history. It was the biggest comeback since March 3, 2023, when a 28-point deficit was overcome in Boston. The Nets came back from 28-point deficits three times.
Michael Porter Jr. scored 17 of his 30 points in the second half and also had 9 of his 13 rebounds. Former Memphis first-round pick Zierre Williams added 13 of his 23 points in the final 24 minutes, tying his season high with two points, and scored in double figures for the third straight game.
Memphis scored the final 13 points on Jan. 11 to earn a 103-98 home win over Brooklyn. Since a late comeback in the first meeting, the Grizzlies are 6-17 in their last 23 games. That includes Saturday’s 123-120 loss to the Los Angeles Clippers, their ninth loss by scoring at least 120 points.
The loss comes after Morant was available to the media for the first time since injuring his elbow on Jan. 21.
“If I was basically passing to the other side with that hand, that was the biggest problem.” Morant said. “Other than that, I think we can get through it, but we still have to be smart.”
Without Morant again, the Grizzlies lost a 19-point lead in the second quarter and were outscored 100-79 over the final three quarters while allowing 54 points in the paint.
Memphis committed 15 turnovers, allowed a season-worst 46 free throws and committed 29 fouls, three fewer than its worst foul of the season.
Ty Jerome was the most experienced player in the starting lineup, scoring 23 points, the second-highest scorer of the season. Jerome was in the starting lineup along with Jaylen Wells, GG Jackson, Olivier-Maxence Prosper and Scotty Pippen Jr., while Taylor Hendricks added 18 off the bench.
–Field level media
