Thunder bounce back from stunning collapse with fourth-quarter blitz to beat the Nets 129-121
NEW YORK — — Shai Gilgeous-Alexander scored 27 points, Chet Holmgren had 22 points and 17 rebounds, and the Oklahoma City Thunder rebounded from a stunning collapse with a game-changing blitz in the fourth quarter to beat the Brooklyn Nets 129-121 on Wednesday night.
Aaron Wiggins added 24 points and Jalen Williams had 22 for the Thunder, who were playing for the first time since their 131-128 loss to Minnesota on Monday, when they led by 24 points in the fourth quarter and were still ahead by 16 with under 4 minutes remaining in regulation.
They had some of the same defensive woes in this one, when they allowed a season-high 76 points in the first half and trailed by 18. But then they unleased an 18-0 run in the fourth quarter, turning a 103-99 deficit into a 117-103 lead. Oklahoma City outscored Brooklyn 27-7 to begin the period.
Day’Ron Sharpe scored a career-high 25 points in his first start of the season for the Nets, adding 15 rebounds and five assists. Killian Hayes had a season-best 19 points and Cam Johnson also scored 19.
Takeaways
Thunder: Once they got going, the Western Conference leaders didn’t slow down until they had avoided what would have been consecutive losses for just the second time this season.
Nets: Sharpe made the most of his chance to start and play major minutes with starting center Nic Claxton suspended for the game by the NBA for accumulation of flagrant foul points.
Key moment
With the Thunder having just taken a two-point lead, Cason Wallace got the next two baskets off his own steals, giving Oklahoma City a 109-103 lead midway through its run.
Key stat
The Nets made a season-high 23 3-pointers on a franchise-record 61 attempts.
Up next
The Thunder visit Atlanta on Friday night and the Nets host Portland.
——
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Oklahoma City Thunder
Brooklyn Nets
Amen Thompson scores 25 points in the Rockets’ 118-106 victory over the Spurs
Amen Thompson shines in Rockets’ win over Spurs
Shaedon Sharpe’s dunk highlight of career night for Blazers
Regular Season Series
Game Information
2024-25 Northwest Standings
2024-25 Atlantic Standings
NBA News
OKC wins 2-0
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | T | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| OKC | 29 | 32 | 29 | 39 | 129 |
| BKN | 40 | 36 | 20 | 25 | 121 |
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma City | 47 | 11 | .810 | – | W1 |
| Denver | 38 | 20 | .655 | 9 | W1 |
| Minnesota | 32 | 27 | .542 | 15.5 | W1 |
| Portland | 26 | 33 | .441 | 21.5 | W3 |
| Utah | 14 | 44 | .241 | 33 | L2 |
| Team | W | L | PCT | GB | STRK |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 42 | 17 | .712 | – | L1 |
| New York | 38 | 20 | .655 | 3.5 | W1 |
| Brooklyn | 21 | 37 | .362 | 20.5 | L2 |
| Philadelphia | 20 | 38 | .345 | 21.5 | L9 |
| Toronto | 18 | 41 | .305 | 24 | L2 |
Thunder vs. Nets odds, score prediction, time: 2025 NBA picks, February 26 best bets from proven model
We’ve got another exciting interconference contest on Wednesday’s NBA schedule as the Brooklyn Nets will host the Oklahoma City Thunder. Brooklyn is 21-36 overall and 9-18 at home, while Oklahoma City is 46-11 overall and 20-7 on the road. The Thunder defeated the Nets, 127-101, at home on Jan. 19 and are 5-1 over their last six matchups against Brooklyn. D’Angelo Russell (ankle) and Nic Claxton (suspension) are out for the Nets.
Tipoff is set for 7:30 p.m. ET from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. The Thunder are favored by 16.5 points in the latest Nets vs. Thunder odds, according to the SportsLine consensus. The over/under is 217.5 points. Before entering any Thunder vs. Nets picks, you’ll want to see the NBA predictions from the model at SportsLine.
The SportsLine Projection Model simulates every NBA game 10,000 times and has returned well over $10,000 in betting profit for $100 players on its top-rated NBA picks over the past six-plus seasons. The model enters Week 19 of the 2024-25 NBA season on a sizzling 147-106 roll on all top-rated NBA picks dating back to last season, returning nearly $4,000. It’s also an outstanding 18-10 (64%) on top-rated spread picks this season. Anyone following at sportsbooks and on betting apps could have seen huge returns.
The model has set its sights on Oklahoma City vs. Brooklyn. You can head to SportsLine to see its picks. Here are several NBA betting lines for Nets vs. Thunder:
The Thunder, with the best record in the Western Conference, are coming off a rare loss and the first game following an Oklahoma City loss hasn’t often brought favorable results to the opposing team. The Thunder have won seven straight games following a loss, winning by an average of 23 points per game. Each of those victories came by at least 10 points with five wins by more than 20 points. The Thunder defeated the Nets, 127-101, in their first matchup, which came following one of the last seven losses.
Oklahoma City has the MVP favorite in Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, who leads the NBA at 32.4 ppg. He had 39 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists in the Thunder’s 131-128 overtime loss to the Timberwolves on Monday for his second straight game with at least 37 points and eight rebounds. Oklahoma City has the No. 5 scoring offense (117.8 ppg) and No. 2 scoring defense (105.6 ppg) in the league this season in what appears to be a complete talent mismatch on paper. See which team to pick here.
The Nets will be shorthanded, but that’s nothing new to them given the bevy of injuries they’ve faced this season. Russell will miss his third straight game and Claxton faces a one-game suspension following his sixth flagrant foul of the season, but the Nets have played without Cam Thomas, their leading scorer, since Jan. 2. The Nets have remained competitive due to defensive effort and success, holding teams below 100 points in six of their last 10 games and 110 points or fewer in 13 of 14 contests.
Brooklyn’s recent defensive dominance has the Nets ranked as the No. 8 scoring defense, allowing 110.8 ppg this season. The Nets are 7-3 ATS over their last 10 games and although knocking off the Thunder may seem like an impossible task, Brooklyn has been doing the improbable the majority of the season to remain just 1.5 games out of the NBA Play-In Tournament. See which team to pick here.
The model has simulated Nets vs. Thunder 10,000 times and the results are in. The model is leaning Under, projecting 207 combined points, and it’s also generated a point-spread pick that is hitting in almost 70% of simulations. You can only see the pick at SportsLine.
So who wins Thunder vs. Nets, and which side of the spread hits almost 70% of the time? Visit SportsLine now to see which side of the Nets vs. Thunder spread you need to jump on, all from the model that is on a 147-106 roll on top-rated NBA picks since last season, and find out.
© 2004-2025 CBS Interactive. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
CBS Sports is a registered trademark of CBS Broadcasting Inc. Commissioner.com is a registered trademark of CBS Interactive Inc.
The content on this site is for entertainment purposes only and CBS Sports makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the information given or the outcome of any game or event. There is no gambling offered on this site. This site contains commercial content and CBS Sports may be compensated for the links provided on this site.
Images by Getty Images and Imagn
SportsLine’s model just revealed its NBA predictions for the Brooklyn Nets vs. Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday
Why the Thunder can cover
Why the Nets can cover
How to make Thunder vs. Nets picks
Our Latest NBA Stories
Thunder vs. Nets odds, line, NBA picks, bets
Pistons blow out Celtics to earn eighth straight win
Durant reveals why he nixed trade to Warriors
Jazz vs. Kings odds, NBA picks, score prediction
Spurs vs. Rockets odds, NBA picks, best bets
Clippers vs. Bulls odds, NBA picks, score prediction
George taking podcast hiatus to focus on playoff ‘push’
SAM QUINN • 2 MIN READ
SAM QUINN • 3 MIN READ
CBS SPORTS STAFF • 3 MIN READ
CBS SPORTS STAFF • 3 MIN READ
CBS SPORTS STAFF • 3 MIN READ
JASMYN WIMBISH • 3 MIN READ
Brooklyn Nets drop potential upset of season, lose to Oklahoma City Thunder 129-121
FILED UNDER:
It’s not in the nature of a true competitor to be in awe of a moral victory, but Brooklyn’s tonight was among the best you’ll see all season
With only a handful of wins this year, despite some tank commanders seeing it as a bushel, the Brooklyn Nets faced arguably the most intimidating opponent their season has left to offer this evening.
It wasn’t just a David vs Goliath matchup, but one where the former even had his stones and sling taken away. Pitted against the aura-loaded, West-leading Oklahoma City Thunder, Brooklyn had to trot out there without Nic Claxton, serving a one-game suspension, and D’Angelo Russell, who missed another one due to his ankle sprain. Not to mention Cam Thomas who may be back soon but not tonight. The fact that OKC also stuck Brooklyn with a 25+ point loss roughly a month ago didn’t help their odds either.
But in a year where the word “fight” has echoed around the Barclays Center like a mantra, Brooklyn put up their best, and while they couldn’t deliver the same inspiring ending as that age old tale, every chapter outside of that final one was as motivational as anything we’ve seen in the Barclays Center all year.
Jetting out to a 30-12 lead after the first seven minute of play, the Nets got in front so fast that their fans didn’t even have a chance to conceptualize the upset possibly unfolding before them. In that stretch, Brooklyn shot a blistering 6-of-10 from three, getting nine points from Day’Ron Sharpe who started tonight for the first time this season.
The Nets also found success blitzing Shai Gilgeous-Alexander in the pick-and-roll. At times, SGA got Isaiah Hartenstein the ball in the post, but at others got it to Brooklyn defenders. Gilgeous-Alexander coughed it up three times in the opening period. On the opposite end, Brooklyn was as crisp as they come, dishing their most assists in a period this season with 13 on 15 made baskets. They’d go on to finish the game with 31 dimes, tied for their fifth most in a contest all year.
As many of their early leads do, the question for Brooklyn and their fans became, “how long will it last.” It looked like we’d have our answer early when the Thunder opened up the second on a 21-12 run, making it a 50-52 game.
But the Thunder, and all their NYC-based fans, eager to watch and cheer on their team in the only chance they’d have this year to see them at a decent price, would need to wait longer.
With their lead on life support, Ziaire Williams and Day’Ron Sharpe gave it a shot of adrenaline. Thanks to Sharpe mining extra chance points and Williams unloading a clip of 3-pointers, the pair helped Brooklyn close the second quarter on a 24-11 run.
“If I had a dollar for every time they say shoot a damn three, I’d be a freaking millionaire,” Ziaire Williams said postgame after helping the Nets hoist up a franchise record 61 triples. “Coach just wants us to shoot, shoot, shoot, and shoot again…When we broke down the huddle right before the game started, he said if we don’t get up 45 then he’s benching the whole team, or whoever plays in the game, he’s benching us. So at least we won’t be benched next game.”
So with Day’Day and ZDub in the cab, the Nets bulldozed over the Thunder and all the pro-tank fans into halftime with a 76-61 lead. In the shadow of the league’s top ranked defense, they put up their most points in a half all year.
It was a banner night for guys with the last name Sharpe. One gave us what might be the dunk of the season. The other gave us a career-best scoring night, as Day’Ron dropped 25 points, dished five dimes, grabbed 15 rebounds, and swatted three shots while going 8-of-10 from the field and 2-of-3 from deep.
“I’m very happy with him,” Fernández said. “Proud of the game that he had. He was amazing and I’m sure that even though we didn’t win the game, everybody’s happy for him because he’s worked hard, and now he saw this opportunity, and he took advantage of it.”
He joined Victor Wembanyama as the only players this season to tally 25+ points, 15+ rebounds, multiple steals, multiple blocks, and multiple 3-pointers made in a game.
“I’m just a beast on them boards,” Sharpe said. “I don’t really think nobody can mess with me in the paint when it comes to that. Like tell y’all every time, no matter how big, no matter how tall, it’s just what I do. You know what I’m saying? You’re gonna have to send three people to box me out. But I just play hard.”
“Yeah, for sure. Day’Ron’s a beast,” Williams agreed. “He’s a double-double machine. He works real hard, man. Weight room, court. He’s just a great guy to be around. A great locker room guy. Always making guys laugh and smile. So definitely proud of him. This is just the start.”
Posting 55/50 splits also at the break, Brooklyn’s offense, off in a galaxy far, far away by that point, was long overdue for a fall back to Earth. That reentry took place in the third, where the Nets shot just 5-of-19 from the field and 4-of-15 from deep, allowing OKC to put the pressure back on Brooklyn.
Although that poor shooting indeed allowed the Thunder to cut into the lead, the Nets rallied the other way, pulling down four offensive rebounds leading to 10 second chance points in the period. That allowed them to stay afloat by six points despite their crash into the ocean.
In the fourth, they finally sank. But even there in that period, it still took longer than you’d expect for Oklahoma City to jump in front.
Once more attacking the offensive glass, Brooklyn managed to keep its lead alive for almost the entire quarter’s first half. Brooklyn grabbed eight more offensive rebounds in the fourth, leading to seven more second chance points. It wasn’t until Keon Johnson got caught late biting on a Jalen Williams floater at the 7:38 mark of the game that the lead dipped in OKC’s favor.
That changing of the guards seemed to snap everyone back into reality. After a pair of steals turned buckets in the backcourt from Cason Wallace and some transition takes from Williams, there was a double-digit lead for the visitors now on the scoreboard. The guys on the court remembered who they were and how this one was supposed to go.
While Brooklyn’s efforts to preserve their lead remain worthy of applause, it vanished just as suddenly as it arrived in the first. Goliath won, though it wasn’t easy.
Final: Oklahoma City Thunder 129, Brooklyn Nets 121
Jordi Fernández doesn’t often give us much beyond what the Net injury report does — but he did give us some news tonight pertaining to Brooklyn’s top bucket-getter.
“CT is day to day, so you guys will see him soon. I cannot say the exact day, but he’s done a great job,” the coach said pregame. “Like we talked about, he’s played five-on-five and looks good. Obviously getting readjusted to a real game, it doesn’t happen right away, but excited to have him back at some point soon.”
Fernández also said that D’Angelo Russell and Noah Clowney are “doing great” that they’d “probably talk about having them on the court some point next week.” He wasn’t able to provide an update on Dariq Whitehead, who sustained a leg injury out on Long Island yesterday, stating that they’re still evaluating him.
Brooklyn will play host to another visitor from out west on Friday evening when the Portland Trail Blazers come to town. The Nets sewed up Rip City last time out by 132-114 score to split what could have been a 13-game losing streak in January.
Like Brooklyn, Portland’s stolen some wins of late, partially at the expense of their own rebuild. Since January 19th, they came into tonight tied with the Thunder for the fifth most wins in the association.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER (1-800-426-2537). Hope is here. GamblingHelpLineMA.org or call (800) 327-5050 for 24/7 support (MA). Visit www.mdgamblinghelp.org (MD). Call 877-8HOPE-NY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY). 21+ (18+ D.C.) and present in select states (for KS, in affiliation with Kansas Star Casino). Call 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT) or visit FanDuel.com/RG.
