The Nets snapped their longest dropping skid of the season with a slump-busting wire-to-wire 103-84 win towards the shorthanded Hornets in Charlotte, N.C.
The Nets got here in having dropped seven straight earlier than defensively smothering the life out of the Hornets, main by as many as 24 factors and by no means trailing within the sport.
The Nets (15-33) are simply 2-12 since Jan. 4 — with each of their wins coming towards fellow lottery hopefuls — and stay fifth within the lottery-odds standings.
They fell a sport behind fourth-place Charlotte, whereas their different victory got here Jan. 14 at Portland, with the Path Blazers at the moment in seventh.
Middle Nic Claxton led a dominant defensive effort.
He had 12 factors, eight rebounds and 6 blocks, one shy of his profession excessive.
Keon Johnson had a team-high 18 factors, together with an alley-oop from Ben Simmons.
The Nets allowed simply 33.7 p.c capturing, and 10-for-35 from deep. The Hornets had been with out seven of their prime eight scorers, together with star guard LaMelo Ball (ankle harm). However the Nets possible gained’t care.
Miles Bridges — the one Hornet averaging over six factors that performed — ended up with 23 factors. The Nets cruised from begin to end.
The one detrimental was Day’Ron Sharpe being pressured out of the sport with left hamstring tightness after notching 5 factors and 6 rebounds in 10 minutes.
He had missed the primary six weeks of the season with a left hamstring pressure, leaving Claxton as the one heart left on Brooklyn’s roster.
Trendon Watford returned to the court docket for the primary time since Dec. 16. He completed with 9 factors in 18 minutes.
The 83 factors conceded and 33.7 p.c capturing allowed are each the perfect of the season for Brooklyn.