Nets' third-quarter surge stands up in 114-108 win over 76ers

The third quarter belonged to Brooklyn

The game was even for long stretches before the break. The first quarter finished 33-33, and Philadelphia looked set to carry stronger momentum into the interval when LeBron James made four straight free throws in the final 1:26 of the second quarter to push the 76ers ahead 58-52. Julius Randle answered with the last two baskets of the half, trimming that margin to 58-56 and keeping Brooklyn within one clean run of control.

That run arrived almost immediately. Philadelphia opened the third quarter with two VJ Edgecombe free throws for a 60-56 lead, but Brooklyn responded with the sequence that reset the night: Noah Clowney hit from deep, Keon Ellis added another three, and Egor Demin fed Randle for a dunk that put the Nets in front 64-60. Dean Wade briefly tied it at 66-66 with 8:57 left in the quarter. From there, Brooklyn closed the period on a 27-15 burst.

Clowney was central to that swing, scoring 10 points in the quarter and stretching Philadelphia again with a late 27-footer. Demin kept the offence moving with five assists on the night and added timely baskets of his own, while Danny Wolf and Nolan Traore finished the period with the kind of late scoring that turns a narrow edge into a real cushion. Traore's three at 1:16 made it 90-79, and his jumper with 37.2 seconds left sent Brooklyn to the fourth ahead 93-81.

Brooklyn's balance stood out as much as any single hot hand. Randle finished with 14 points, Demin had 13, Ellis and Traore scored 12 apiece, and Clowney added 11 on just four shot attempts. Wolf supplied nine points, six rebounds and four assists, and Chaney Johnson added nine points with four offensive rebounds. The Nets did not need one dominant scorer because several players kept the game moving in the same direction.

A rally, then three final answers

Philadelphia still had enough offence to make the closing minutes uncomfortable. The 76ers kept cutting into the deficit in the fourth, first through Rayan Rupert and Saint Thomas, then through Jameer Nelson Jr. and Justin Edwards. Caleb Love scored on a driving layup and later set up a dunk and two layups during the push, helping Philadelphia turn a 104-91 deficit into a one-possession game. When Edwards buried a 25-foot three-pointer with 1:14 remaining, Brooklyn's lead was down to 109-108.

That was as close as the 76ers got. Ben Humrichous answered with a layup off a Terance Mann assist at the 59.2-second mark, Ben Saraf added a free throw with 37.7 seconds left, and Bilodeau scored inside with 22.5 seconds remaining to restore breathing room at 114-108. Philadelphia did not score again after Edwards' three, and Brooklyn escaped a finish that had started to tilt toward a full collapse.

The Sixers had enough individual production to win on another night. Jaylen Brown led them with 18 points, Tyrese Maxey added 14, Edgecombe scored 11, and James had 10 points and five assists in 18 minutes while going 8-for-8 at the line. But the late push came after too much chasing. By the time Philadelphia found real traction in the fourth, the damage from Brooklyn's third-quarter surge had already shaped the game.

Our take: Brooklyn won the possession battle

The box score makes the result easy to explain. Philadelphia shot better from the field, 47.1 per cent to 44.3, and far better at the foul line, 87.2 per cent to 59.5. Brooklyn won anyway because it created more chances to score. The Nets took 88 shots to Philadelphia's 70, collected 14 steals, forced 22 total turnovers and turned those mistakes into 23 points. They also had a 23-14 edge in fast-break points and a 50-46 edge in the paint.

That is the encouraging part of this win for Brooklyn. The pressure and activity were real, and the offence did not stall waiting for one player to rescue it. The warning sign is just as obvious: 32 fouls and 17 missed free throws kept Philadelphia close enough to threaten the game in the final minute. On a sharper night at the line, this result would have felt far less tense.

For Philadelphia, the path forward is also clear. The 76ers assisted on 26 baskets, got to the line 39 times and had several efficient scoring stretches. What undercut all of it was ball security. Joel Embiid finished with only six points and eight turnovers, and the team as a whole gave Brooklyn too many extra possessions to overcome. When a team shoots that well and still loses by six, the loose ends are usually not hard to find. Thursday's were sitting plainly in the turnover column.

Scoring moments

1. 1st Quarter · 11:36

   Egor Demin makes 23-foot three point jumper (Julius Randle assists)

2. 1st Quarter · 10:53

   Egor Demin makes 13-foot turnaround jump shot

3. 1st Quarter · 10:46

   VJ Edgecombe makes layup (LeBron James assists)

4. 1st Quarter · 10:34

   Noah Clowney makes free throw 1 of 2

5. 1st Quarter · 10:17

   Jaylen Brown makes 1-foot dunk (Joel Embiid assists)

6. 1st Quarter · 9:44

   VJ Edgecombe makes 1-foot dunk (LeBron James assists)

7. 1st Quarter · 9:31

   Julius Randle makes free throw 1 of 3

8. 1st Quarter · 9:31

   Julius Randle makes free throw 2 of 3

9. 1st Quarter · 9:31

   Julius Randle makes free throw 3 of 3

10. 1st Quarter · 9:22

    Tyrese Maxey makes 2-foot driving dunk (Jaylen Brown assists)

11. 1st Quarter · 8:53

    Moritz Wagner makes two point shot

12. 1st Quarter · 8:37

    Tyrese Maxey makes 26-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)

13. 1st Quarter · 8:09

    Keon Ellis makes running layup (Moritz Wagner assists)

14. 1st Quarter · 7:53

    Joel Embiid makes 5-foot two point shot

15. 1st Quarter · 7:42

    Egor Demin makes driving layup

16. 1st Quarter · 6:58

    Tyrese Maxey makes running layup (Joel Embiid assists)

17. 1st Quarter · 6:37

    Moritz Wagner makes free throw 1 of 2

18. 1st Quarter · 6:37

    Moritz Wagner makes free throw 2 of 2

19. 1st Quarter · 6:11

    Julius Randle makes 7-foot driving floating jump shot

20. 1st Quarter · 5:35

    Keon Ellis makes running layup (Danny Wolf assists)

21. 1st Quarter · 5:34

    Tyrese Maxey makes 24-foot three point jumper (VJ Edgecombe assists)

22. 1st Quarter · 4:54

    LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 2

23. 1st Quarter · 4:54

    LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2

24. 1st Quarter · 3:52

    Danny Wolf makes driving layup

25. 1st Quarter · 3:31

    Kentavious Caldwell-Pope makes 12-foot fade away jump shot (Joel Embiid assists)

26. 1st Quarter · 2:55

    Chaney Johnson makes tip shot

27. 1st Quarter · 2:43

    VJ Edgecombe makes driving layup

28. 1st Quarter · 2:30

    Nolan Traore makes driving layup

29. 1st Quarter · 1:50

    Nolan Traore makes free throw 1 of 2

30. 1st Quarter · 1:50

    Nolan Traore makes free throw 2 of 2

31. 1st Quarter · 1:33

    Dean Wade makes 23-foot three point jumper (LeBron James assists)

32. 1st Quarter · 1:00

    Jabari Walker makes 2-foot dunk (LeBron James assists)

33. 1st Quarter · 42.1

    Jabari Walker makes free throw 1 of 2

34. 1st Quarter · 42.1

    Jabari Walker makes free throw 2 of 2

35. 1st Quarter · 31.0

    Chaney Johnson makes 25-foot three point jumper (Danny Wolf assists)

36. 1st Quarter · 12.3

    LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 2

37. 1st Quarter · 12.3

    LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2

38. 1st Quarter · 1.1

    Chaney Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2

39. 2nd Quarter · 11:03

    Julius Randle makes free throw 2 of 2

40. 2nd Quarter · 10:16

    Drake Powell makes running dunk (Egor Demin assists)

41. 2nd Quarter · 9:06

    Labaron Philon Jr. makes 23-foot three point jumper (Tyrese Maxey assists)

42. 2nd Quarter · 8:32

    Moritz Wagner makes running layup (Drake Powell assists)

43. 2nd Quarter · 8:31

    Egor Demin makes technical free throw

44. 2nd Quarter · 7:57

    Dean Wade makes free throw 2 of 2

45. 2nd Quarter · 6:52

    LeBron James makes 4-foot reverse layup (Tyrese Maxey assists)

46. 2nd Quarter · 6:30

    Tyrese Maxey makes free throw 1 of 2

47. 2nd Quarter · 6:30

    Tyrese Maxey makes free throw 2 of 2

48. 2nd Quarter · 5:58

    Egor Demin makes running layup

49. 2nd Quarter · 5:07

    Tyrese Maxey makes driving layup

50. 2nd Quarter · 4:54

    Egor Demin makes free throw 1 of 1

51. 2nd Quarter · 4:50

    Josh Minott makes 26-foot three point jumper (Chaney Johnson assists)

52. 2nd Quarter · 4:05

    Danny Wolf makes 1-foot alley oop dunk (Nolan Traore assists)

53. 2nd Quarter · 3:54

    Jaylen Brown makes 18-foot fade away jump shot

54. 2nd Quarter · 3:26

    Danny Wolf makes tip shot

55. 2nd Quarter · 3:19

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 2

56. 2nd Quarter · 3:19

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 2 of 2

57. 2nd Quarter · 2:55

    Joel Embiid makes free throw 1 of 2

58. 2nd Quarter · 2:55

    Joel Embiid makes free throw 2 of 2

59. 2nd Quarter · 2:30

    Joel Embiid makes free throw 1 of 2

60. 2nd Quarter · 2:30

    Joel Embiid makes free throw 2 of 2

61. 2nd Quarter · 1:59

    Keon Ellis makes 24-foot running jump shot (Nolan Traore assists)

62. 2nd Quarter · 1:48

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 2

63. 2nd Quarter · 1:48

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 2 of 2

64. 2nd Quarter · 1:26

    LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 2

65. 2nd Quarter · 1:26

    LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2

66. 2nd Quarter · 1:12

    LeBron James makes free throw 1 of 2

67. 2nd Quarter · 1:12

    LeBron James makes free throw 2 of 2

68. 2nd Quarter · 58.4

    Julius Randle makes 17-foot pullup jump shot

69. 2nd Quarter · 1.8

    Julius Randle makes 7-foot pullup jump shot

70. 3rd Quarter · 11:41

    VJ Edgecombe makes free throw 1 of 2

71. 3rd Quarter · 11:41

    VJ Edgecombe makes free throw 2 of 2

72. 3rd Quarter · 11:27

    Noah Clowney makes 23-foot three point jumper (Egor Demin assists)

73. 3rd Quarter · 10:15

    Keon Ellis makes 25-foot three point jumper (Egor Demin assists)

74. 3rd Quarter · 9:37

    Julius Randle makes 2-foot dunk (Egor Demin assists)

75. 3rd Quarter · 9:23

    Jaylen Brown makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot

76. 3rd Quarter · 9:23

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 1

77. 3rd Quarter · 9:04

    Noah Clowney makes two point shot (Julius Randle assists)

78. 3rd Quarter · 8:57

    Dean Wade makes 24-foot three point jumper (Jaylen Brown assists)

79. 3rd Quarter · 8:48

    Noah Clowney makes free throw 1 of 2

80. 3rd Quarter · 8:48

    Noah Clowney makes free throw 2 of 2

81. 3rd Quarter · 8:29

    Julius Randle makes free throw 1 of 2

82. 3rd Quarter · 8:29

    Julius Randle makes free throw 2 of 2

83. 3rd Quarter · 7:34

    Egor Demin makes running layup

84. 3rd Quarter · 7:06

    VJ Edgecombe makes free throw 1 of 2

85. 3rd Quarter · 7:06

    VJ Edgecombe makes free throw 2 of 2

86. 3rd Quarter · 6:44

    Keon Ellis makes 19-foot step back jumpshot

87. 3rd Quarter · 6:21

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 1 of 2

88. 3rd Quarter · 6:21

    Jaylen Brown makes free throw 2 of 2

89. 3rd Quarter · 6:00

    Chaney Johnson makes tip shot

90. 3rd Quarter · 5:43

    Jaylen Brown makes 11-foot driving floating jump shot

91. 3rd Quarter · 5:33

    Danny Wolf makes 24-foot three point jumper (Egor Demin assists)

92. 3rd Quarter · 5:17

    Jaylen Brown makes 27-foot three point jumper (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope assists)

93. 3rd Quarter · 5:02

    Noah Clowney makes 27-foot three point jumper (Danny Wolf assists)

94. 3rd Quarter · 4:50

    Jabari Walker makes free throw 1 of 2

95. 3rd Quarter · 4:50

    Jabari Walker makes free throw 2 of 2

96. 3rd Quarter · 4:19

    Jabari Walker makes two point shot

97. 3rd Quarter · 3:39

    Nolan Traore makes 5-foot driving floating jump shot

98. 3rd Quarter · 3:11

    Drake Powell makes free throw 1 of 2

99. 3rd Quarter · 3:11

    Drake Powell makes free throw 2 of 2

100. 3rd Quarter · 2:42

     Chaney Johnson makes free throw 1 of 2

101. 3rd Quarter · 1:16

     Nolan Traore makes 25-foot three point jumper (Chaney Johnson assists)

102. 3rd Quarter · 37.2

     Nolan Traore makes 23-foot running jump shot (Danny Wolf assists)

103. 3rd Quarter · 22.8

     Rayan Rupert makes 2-foot layup (Labaron Philon Jr. assists)

104. 4th Quarter · 11:45

     Labaron Philon Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2

105. 4th Quarter · 11:31

     Grant Nelson makes 1-foot dunk (Ben Saraf assists)

106. 4th Quarter · 11:19

     Rayan Rupert makes 23-foot three point jumper (Labaron Philon Jr. assists)

107. 4th Quarter · 10:52

     Saint Thomas makes layup (Caleb Love assists)

108. 4th Quarter · 10:25

     Ben Saraf makes 26-foot three point jumper (Grant Nelson assists)

109. 4th Quarter · 10:08

     Labaron Philon Jr. makes 9-foot pullup jump shot (Dillon Jones assists)

110. 4th Quarter · 9:54

     Tyler Bilodeau makes 9-foot floating jump shot (Ben Saraf assists)

111. 4th Quarter · 9:24

     Josh Minott makes free throw 3 of 3

112. 4th Quarter · 9:16

     Saint Thomas makes driving layup (Caleb Love assists)

113. 4th Quarter · 8:46

     Tyler Bilodeau makes free throw 2 of 2

114. 4th Quarter · 8:22

     Grant Nelson makes running layup (Josh Minott assists)

115. 4th Quarter · 7:27

     Caleb Love makes driving layup (Saint Thomas assists)

116. 4th Quarter · 7:15

     Ben Saraf makes free throw 2 of 2

117. 4th Quarter · 5:49

     Jameer Nelson Jr. makes free throw 1 of 2

118. 4th Quarter · 5:49

     Jameer Nelson Jr. makes free throw 2 of 2

119. 4th Quarter · 5:08

     Grant Nelson makes two point shot

120. 4th Quarter · 4:59

     Jameer Nelson Jr. makes driving layup (Caleb Love assists)

121. 4th Quarter · 4:15

     Caleb Love makes 1-foot running dunk (Jameer Nelson Jr. assists)

122. 4th Quarter · 3:56

     Grant Nelson makes free throw 1 of 2

123. 4th Quarter · 3:43

     Justin Edwards makes running layup (Dillon Jones assists)

124. 4th Quarter · 3:23

     Grant Nelson makes free throw 2 of 2

125. 4th Quarter · 3:06

     Justin Edwards makes 12-foot pullup jump shot (Caleb Love assists)

126. 4th Quarter · 2:38

     Jameer Nelson Jr. makes running layup (Caleb Love assists)

127. 4th Quarter · 1:14

     Justin Edwards makes 25-foot three point jumper (Dillon Jones assists)

128. 4th Quarter · 59.2

     Ben Humrichous makes 2-foot layup (Terance Mann assists)

129. 4th Quarter · 37.7

     Ben Saraf makes free throw 1 of 2

130. 4th Quarter · 22.5

     Tyler Bilodeau makes 1-foot layup (Ben Saraf assists)