Nets’ Kevin Ollie commends pair of rookies for ‘Brooklyn style’ after comeback win over Pistons

Trailing 103-94 with five minutes remaining in the game, Brooklyn closed on a 19-0 run to steal the win. Clowney turned in another key sequence during that stretch, grabbing a rebound and draining a transition three before blocking a shot on the other end. Fellow rookie Jalen Wilson iced the victory with a catch-and-shoot three in the final minute.

Kevin Ollie commends Nets rookies

Noah Clowney finished with 17 points, six rebounds and four blocks on 6-of-7 shooting in 24 minutes. Jalen Wilson also provided a second-half spark off the bench, posting 10 points and four rebounds on 3-of-5 shooting in 18 minutes.

“We weren’t finding anything the first three quarters… Then we finally found a pace that we wanted on defense and offense, and then it really started with Noah and J-Will, our young guys,” interim head coach Kevin Ollie said. “Playing and blocking shots, getting steals, getting them EGBs… I seen everything [from those two]. I seen the Brooklyn way. I seen grit. I’ve seen some style. I’ve seen some bravado… and that’s Brooklyn.

“You know, Brooklyn’s got style, but we’re gritty. So that combination of both of them is great and the confidence that they’ve shown.”

With the Nets effectively eliminated from postseason contention for the last two weeks, Clowney has impressed while seeing extended action. The 21st overall pick has averaged 19.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.5 blocks on 13-of-16 shooting from the field and 5-of-7 from three over his last two appearances.

Despite being the fourth-youngest player in the NBA at 19 years and 264 days old, the 6-foot-10 power forward/center has no reservations about his ability to compete with NBA veterans.

“We’re all on the court, we’re all at this level for a reason,” Clowney said. “So I feel like I don’t really look at nobody as better than me. I mean, obviously players that have done more, proven more, who are better than me, actually, but I’m not gonna go in there with the mindset of that. So I feel like we’re all equals out there when I’m out there.”

Cam Thomas led all scorers with 32 points and five assists on 10-of-25 shooting during the victory. Dennis Schroder added 24 points and six assists on 8-of-10 shooting, while Mikal Bridges chipped in 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting.

The win brings the Nets to 31-47 on the year. Brooklyn will host the Sacramento Kings on a back-to-back Sunday before closing the season with road matchups against the Toronto Raptors, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers.