The Brooklyn Nets (13-34) are entering the second night of a back-to-back after losing to the Denver Nuggets with forward Michael Porter Jr. returning to Denver. Brooklyn got some relief on Friday against the Utah Jazz (15-34), as the Nets found a way to end the fourth quarter without Porter.
The Nets beat the Jazz 109-99 on Friday in a game that was largely a back-and-forth affair thanks to strong performances from players on both teams. Nets rookie guard Egor Demin played his best basketball in his return to Utah with 25 points and 10 rebounds, while Cam Thomas had 21 points and four assists in 24 minutes off the bench.
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Part of the Nets’ problem in winning games when Porter is not in the lineup is offensively, but defensively, Brooklyn has struggled to stay in front of guard Keyonte George (26 points, seven assists) and forward Brice Sensabaugh (18 points, five rebounds). In the end, the Nets did enough on the offensive end to win this game. Here are the ratings of Nets players after Friday’s win over the Jazz:
Nolan Traore: B
Traore struggled with his overall shooting in another game, but his aggression towards the rim was an encouraging sign that he still has confidence despite consistently missing shots. Traore did everything he could to continue to pressure the rim, but he also focused on the basketball and excelled on the defensive end.
Yegor Demin: A
Deming is back in Utah for the first time since his BYU days, and it’s clear he looks to have extra motivation going into facing the Jazz on top of his usual intention of winning every game. Deming struggled with his shot overall, but he did a good job of staying aggressive, and he had a lot of highlights this time around, especially his willingness to get to the rim.
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Terence Mann: B
Mann remained in the starting lineup, and despite all the injuries the Nets faced heading into this game, he performed well over the course of the game and became a solid veteran. Mann does a great job taking care of the ball, and he makes quite a few plays on both ends of the court, becoming Brooklyn’s glue.
Danny Wolfe: B+
With Michael Porter Jr. and Noah Clowney out for the game, Wolfe stepped into the starting lineup and he excelled in scoring and produced some solid performances. Wolfe’s three-point shooting has been inconsistent in recent weeks, but his ability to drive to the rim and rebound is key to the Nets’ persistence in this game against the Jazz.
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Nick Claxton: A
With Jusuf Nurkic, Lauri Markkanen and Walker Kesler missing this game for various reasons, Claxton will have an easier time than usual against the Jazz. Claxton, who has been playing with a pinky injury, struggled to shoot the ball around the rim, but he did a good job rebounding and offensively on the defensive end.
Jaylen Wilson: B+
Wilson got some extra playing time in this game as the team was dealing with a slew of injuries, and he once again made the most of the opportunity thanks to his elite outside shooting. Wilson’s offensive impact is usually limited to his shooting ability on any given occasion, but he also made some nice plays for his teammates and performed well on the defensive end.
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Daron Sharpe: A
Sharp took advantage of the fact that the Jazz didn’t have many big men in this game and made his presence felt in the paint, whether it was scoring or rebounding. Sharp is usually better with the ball, but he has been more effective off the bench for the Nets with his work on the glass and ability to finish games.
Cam Thomas: A
Thomas has struggled with his shooting since returning from a left hamstring injury, but this was one of those games where it was clear early on that he was going to have a good night. Thomas scored 19 points in the first half through a variety of shooting moves, and although he struggled in the second half, he still made the impact he needed off the bench.
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Derek Powell: C+
Although the Nets have a lot of players in their rotation, Powell still takes on a new role off the bench, with rookie Nolan Traore also joining the starting lineup. Powell didn’t have much of an impact on the offensive end because Thomas and Deming took care of that part, but his efforts on the defensive end were noticeable.
Ben Saraf: C
One of the byproducts of the Nets dealing with a rash of injuries is that players like Saraf get to see the court that they wouldn’t get when the roster is largely healthy. Saraf still struggles with his shot, especially from the perimeter, but he continues to show the ability to create for teammates and compete on the defensive end thanks to his good size at the point guard position.
This article originally appeared on Nets Wired: Nets rookie Egor Demin scores 25 points in 109-99 home win over Jazz