The Nets end their losing streak with a big win over the OKC Thunder

“At the end of the day, these guys want to win and you want to be rewarded for your work. I was really trying to strike a balance with this group of coaching them and letting them know there are mistakes we’ve been making that we could cover up for,” Coach Vaughn said after the big win. “Last time we played against this group, we did some really good things well but the transition defense was not very good, this time we were able to at least contain them.”

A massive performance from the Nets

Cameron Thomas broke his slump by scoring 19 points, with 16 coming in the first half. Spencer Dinwiddie also had a bounceback game, leading the Nets in scoring with 23 points, just like Clax.

Dennis Smith Jr also had a magnificent game, scoring 13 points, grabbing 12 rebounds, and dishing out seven assists. That is one of the best bench performances of the year in the NBA. His presence and energy helped the Nets play with a sense of urgency, something he takes pride in.

“I can kind of feel it. I don't even want to say this like I'm bragging or anything, but whenever I speak on things, people listen to me. I appreciate the position that I'm in, and I thank the guys for trusting me,” DSJ said in his post-game interview.

Beating the Thunder is the first step in the right direction

OKC is one of the best teams in the league, now sporting a 23-11 record after this game. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander remains an MVP candidate as he scored 34 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and dished out six assists. He had ample support in this game as Jalen Williams scored 20 points while Chet Holmgren had 17.

This is a statement win for the Nets as they want to return to a .500 record. The tally is at 16-20 after this win, but with their next game being the struggling Portland Trail Blazers, that is a likely win for Brooklyn.