Michael Porter Jr. tied his season high with 35 points, while Nic Claxton secured his second triple-double to lead the Brooklyn Nets to a 119-101 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Porter and Claxton Dominate as Nets Secure Home Victory
The Brooklyn Nets controlled the matchup from the opening tip in front of an announced crowd of 17,055 fans. Porter reached the 30-point mark for a third straight game, matching a career-best stretch he last achieved from February 3 to 6 during his final season with Denver. He connected on five 3-pointers and grabbed nine rebounds after sitting out Thursday’s game to rest his back during the second night of a back-to-back set. Porter also poured in 13 points on 5-for-6 shooting in the second quarter alone, helping Brooklyn build a 62-44 advantage by halftime.
Nic Claxton anchored the interior for Brooklyn, finishing the night with 14 points, 11 rebounds, and 10 assists. Records show that Claxton is the first Nets player to record multiple triple-doubles in a single season since James Harden, who had nine, and Kevin Durant, who tallied four during the 2021-22 campaign. He is also only the second Nets center to record multiple career triple-doubles, joining Shawn Bradley, who recorded five between 1995 and 1997.
Offensive Output and Team Standings
Brooklyn’s ball movement fueled an efficient shooting performance. The Nets recorded 13 assists on their 14 baskets in the first quarter alone, racing out to a 35-24 lead. Day’Ron Sharpe added 16 points, converting seven of his eight field-goal attempts. The victory lifts Brooklyn’s record to 6-17 on the season as the team captures its third win in four games.
For the Pelicans, the struggles continued. Trey Murphy III led New Orleans with 23 points, while Saddiq Bey contributed 18 points and Bryce McGowens chipped in 16. Despite a 31-point third quarter, the Pelicans dropped their sixth game, falling to 3-21 overall.
Box Score and Game Statistics
Official game statistics highlight the contrasting efficiency between the two squads. Brooklyn out-scored New Orleans in the paint 66 to 54 and built a game-high lead of 28 points. The officiating crew for the matchup consisted of Eric Dalen, Josh Tiven, and Suyash Mehta.
Quarter-by-quarter scoring breakdown:
- New Orleans Pelicans: Q1: 24 | Q2: 20 | Q3: 31 | Q4: 26 | Final: 101
- Brooklyn Nets: Q1: 35 | Q2: 27 | Q3: 34 | Q4: 23 | Final: 119
Upcoming Schedule
The New Orleans Pelicans host San Antonio on Monday night. Meanwhile, the Brooklyn Nets are at Dallas on Friday night.
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