Joshua Jefferson is expected to make his professional debut as the Brooklyn Nets look to build on their dominant 91-65 opening win. Standing in their way is a balanced Atlanta Hawks team coming off a 27-point victory of its own.
The Brooklyn Nets continue their NBA Summer League schedule on Saturday night when they take on the Atlanta Hawks at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.
Tip-off is set for 8:00 p.m. ET, with the game airing nationally on ESPN and available to stream on the Gotham Sports App.
Brooklyn enters the matchup with plenty of momentum after a dominant 91-65 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday night. Egor Demin led the way with 20 points while continuing to display the all-around skill set that made him a lottery pick. Mikel Brown Jr. also broke out with his best performance of the summer, scoring 20 points and showing exactly why the Nets are so excited about his scoring ability and offensive creativity. Chaney Johnson once again provided a major spark, bringing energy on both ends of the floor and making winning plays throughout the game.
One storyline to watch before tip-off will be Brooklyn's availability. Sunday's contest is the second game of a back-to-back, and the Nets took a cautious approach during the California Classic by resting several players on the second night of a back-to-back. With Summer League focused on player development rather than wins and losses, it's reasonable to expect Brooklyn could once again rest or limit the minutes of some players.
Regardless of any lineup changes, Joshua Jefferson is expected to make his professional debut. The rookie forward did not play in Friday’s opener but is set to make his first appearance in a Nets uniform against Atlanta. Jefferson's versatility, defensive instincts, and ability to impact the game on both ends of the floor make him one of Brooklyn's most intriguing young prospects to watch.
The Hawks come into Sunday's game after rolling to a 93-66 victory over the San Antonio Spurs on Thursday. Atlanta showcased impressive offensive balance in the win, with seven different players reaching double figures. Rather than relying on one primary scorer, the Hawks consistently moved the ball and received contributions throughout the lineup.
That balanced attack presents a much different challenge for Brooklyn than it saw against New York. The Nets established a defensive identity in their opener, holding the Knicks to just 65 points while contesting shots, forcing difficult looks, and controlling the glass. They'll need to bring that same intensity for the entire 40 minutes against an Atlanta team that has several players capable of putting the ball in the basket.
Whether Brooklyn is at full strength or rotates fresh faces into the lineup, Sunday's matchup provides another valuable opportunity for the organization's young core. Joshua Jefferson will make his professional debut, while Egor Demin and Mikel Brown Jr. will look to build on their impressive performances from Saturday's victory. If the Nets can once again establish themselves defensively against one of the deeper offensive teams in Summer League, they'll have a strong chance to improve to 2-0 in Las Vegas.
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