Fresh off a dominant 89-69 win over the Bucks, the Nets look to close the California Classic on a high note against the Warriors Blue. Plus, all eyes will be on rookie Mikel Brown Jr. as he is expected to make his long-awaited Summer League debut.
The Brooklyn Nets will look to finish the California Classic on a high note when they take on the Golden State Warriors Blue team on Monday night.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET, with Brooklyn coming off an impressive 89-69 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday. Fans can stream the game live on Prime Video, ESPN+, NBA TV, NBA League Pass, and the Gotham Sports App.
One of the biggest storylines entering Monday's contest is the potential professional debut of Mikel Brown Jr. After missing Brooklyn's first two California Classic games, Brown appears to be on track to make his Summer League debut. Summer League head coach Dutch Gaitley said "the plan is that he is going to play," while acknowledging the final decision is not his to make. If Brown is available, Nets fans will get their first look at the lottery pick in game action.
Danny Wolf is still considered unlikely to play as the Nets continue to take a cautious approach with his lower back soreness. However, Ben Saraf, Egor Demin, Drake Powell, Tyler Bilodeau, and Chaney Johnson are all expected to be available after starting Brooklyn's first California Classic game against Sacramento.
Golden State enters Monday's matchup still searching for its first win after opening the California Classic with back-to-back losses. After falling 97-83 to the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday, the Warriors dropped a 91-85 decision to the Sacramento Kings on Sunday despite taking a 52-42 lead into halftime. RJ Nembhard Jr. led Golden State with 17 points off the bench, while Jaxsen Moni scored 18 points and Nick Boyd finished with 11 points, seven rebounds, and 10 assists. The Warriors struggled offensively throughout the contest, shooting just 26-of-68 (38.2%) from the field and 7-of-28 (25.0%) from three-point range.
Despite Sunday’s win, there is still one area that needs improvement before heading to Las Vegas for NBA Summer League: turnovers. The Nets committed 20 turnovers in their opener against Sacramento and followed that up with another turnover-heavy performance against the Bucks. While Brooklyn's defense and rebounding have been among the team's biggest strengths through two games, consistently giving opponents extra possessions is something that will need to be cleaned up.
If Brown plays, that's where he could make an immediate impact. The rookie point guard is expected to help stabilize Brooklyn's offense with his ball-handling, decision-making, and playmaking ability. Even in his expected debut, the Nets will hope Brown can help limit careless mistakes and keep the offense organized.
Defensively, Brooklyn has established an identity early in Summer League. The Nets held Sacramento to just 37.3 percent shooting in the opener before limiting Milwaukee to only 69 points on Sunday, using active hands, strong rebounding, and physical defense to dictate the tempo. If Brooklyn can bring that same defensive intensity against a Warriors team that has struggled to score efficiently through its first two games while taking better care of the basketball, the Nets should be in a strong position to earn their second consecutive victory before heading to Las Vegas for NBA Summer League later this week.
With California Classic play coming to a close, Monday's matchup allows the Nets to build even more momentum before heading to Las Vegas for the NBA Summer League. Another strong defensive performance, improved ball security, and the long-awaited debut of Mikel Brown Jr. would give Brooklyn plenty to build on as Summer League competition continues.
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