Brooklyn forced an astonishing number of turnovers inside the Chase Center. But still fell apart in the end.
Head coach Jordi Fernandez threw an unrecognizable defense at the Golden State Warriors. Which led to astonishing results for the Brooklyn Nets.
The visitors forced 26 total turnovers through their sudden ball pressure defense. Yet that astonishing defensive effort wasn't enough, as Golden State escaped 109-106 on Wednesday night.
The season-worst mark for turnovers is 29, with Brooklyn's defense becoming three shy of tying the mark hit by Portland earlier this season. Golden State looked overwhelmed in spurts by what Fernandez implemented.
The host Warriors tried too many contested passes on Brooklyn. Those risks swung the basketball back the Nets' way.
But defensive adjustments weren't the only change on the evening, or a highlight. Rookie Ben Saraf threw down this monstrous dunk against four-time NBA champion Draymond Green with less than 10 seconds left in the game.
Green redeemed himself, however. The forward hit the final two free throws to seal the win for GSW.
Saraf earned one more chance to attack the basket and potentially avoid Green going to the free throw line. But he missed a possible tip-in layup that would've handed the lead back to Brooklyn. De'Anthony Melton hit a free throw after drawing a foul.
Golden State went on to outscore the Nets 32-20 during the fourth quarter. The aspiring playoff team out in the Western Conference stayed compose despite a terrible ball security night.
Kristaps Porzingis turned the ball over the most on the Warriors side, losing the basketball six times to lead the way. Gui Santos followed by committing five turnovers. Melton lost the basketball four times. Green and Brandin Podziemski committed three apiece. Pat Spencer and Will Richard were two more Warrior players who lost the ball multiple times, as both turned it over twice apiece.
Were the Nets skilled at taking care of the basketball on their end? Brooklyn only lost the roundball 17 times, with Josh Minott losing it five times to lead the way there.
Ziaire Williams carried the lead scoring role for Brooklyn in delivering 19 points on 6-of-11 field goal shooting. Jalen Wilson added 15 points off the bench. Saraf ended his evening by producing 14 points.
Malachi Smith chipped in 12 points through his bench role. Chaney Johnson tacked on 11 points, also in reserve duty. Drake Powell managed to return to the lineup and dropped 10 points on GSW.
Brooklyn has now lost nine in a row and have taken second place in the league's draft lottery standings.
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