Rookie Drake Powell exploded for a career-high 16 points, but it wasn't enough as the Nets' losing streak hit five.
The Brooklyn Nets left the Smoothie King Center in New Orleans, Louisiana the loser of five consecutive games and with a record of 11-27, but they might have something new about yet another difference-making rookie.
Brooklyn fell to the New Orleans Pelicans in a nail-biter by a score of 116-113, allowing their star trade chip Trey Murphy III to pour in 34 points while also bringing down 9 rebounds and dishing five assists.
The Nets' first-time All-Star hopeful Michael Porter Jr. was unable to answer the shot-making of Murphy III for large portions of the night, finishing with just 20 points on 7-for-20 shooting from the floor. In an effort to even the battle, their rookie two-way guard Drake Powell finished with a new career-high 16 points on a 60% field goal percentage. Egor Dëmin's efficient 17 points and five assists also helped Brooklyn's cause.
Brooklyn held an early 31-27 lead by the end of the first quarter, thanks to Porter Jr.'s shot-making. The elite 6-foot-10 jump-shooter knocked down a couple of impressive tries off of the dribble, trying his best to stamp himself as an All-Star.
Still, the Pelicans' stingy defensive front and their former No. 1 overall pick in the 2019 NBA Draft, Zion Williamson, would have a response.
Williamson (25 points, six rebounds, 11-for-14 FG), would not be denied on his way to the basket, as the uber-athletic 6-foot-6, 284-pound power forward threw down an angry flush with 9:00 remaining in the second quarter to cut the Nets' lead to 37-32.
Brooklyn held onto a narrow 55-54 advantage heading into the halftime locker room, but Williamson would yet again provide an answer for Pelicans.
The 2-time All-Star tapped into that ability in the third frame, bullying his way to the rim, throwing down a few more vicious slams and grabbing offensive rebounds for putback opportunities. He'd score 14 of his 25 points in that third quarter, helping to tie the score at 87 before the beginning of the final frame.
After a back-and-forth first eight minutes, the Pelicans gained a 105-101 lead with 4:02 seconds to go on a Yves Missi putback, but it would be Powell that answered right away and provided a spark for Brooklyn.
Powell would rise up comfortably for a pull-up mid-range jumper and stick it to cut that lead back to two points. With 2:15 to go, Powell was fouled on a three-pointer by Williamson and knocked down two of the three chances, giving the Nets a 107-105 lead.
A personal 5-0 Saddiq Bey run from the 1:07 mark in the game to 21 seconds to go gave New Orleans a 112-110 lead, and a pair of Murphy III free throws made it 114-110.
Again, Powell responds with a pull-up three with six seconds left to bring the lead back to one. More Pelicans free throws eventually sealed the deal, but Powell joined Dëmin as a Nets rookie who has proven to have plenty of guts.
Brooklyn's usually-dysfunctional offense operated at a better pace, shooting 47.4% from the field and 37.2% on threes as a unit. Unfortunately, the Pelicans' ability to knock down 19 of their 25 free throw attempts might have been the deciding factor.
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