Cam Thomas scores 33 points, Nets dominate 2nd half to rout Lakers 130-112
LOS ANGELES (AP) Cam Thomas scored 33 points and the Brooklyn Nets beat the Los Angeles Lakers 130-112 on Friday night, pulling away in a dominant second half to snap a four-game losing streak and win for the fourth time in 18 games.
The Nets, who lost by one in overtime against Miami on Monday and by two on a last-second shot by Portland's Anfernee Simons on Wednesday, made sure it didn't go to the last possession this time.
“I think that last game in Portland kind of struck a chord in a lot of us. We came out today with a little bit more fight, a little bit more grit and just edge,” said Lonnie Walker IV, who was one of seven Nets players in double figures with 15 points.
The Nets outscored the Lakers by 24 in the second half and allowed only 44 points after halftime. That matched the fewest points they have allowed in the second half this season.
Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn told his team at halftime he wanted them to be more physical. That included showing a clip where the Nets were trying to defend a pick-and-roll and didn't have one guy touching a Lakers' purple jersey.
That all changed in the second half.
Brooklyn trailed by six early in the third quarter before it went on a 23-8 run over a six-minute span to grab an 87-78 advantage. The Nets took the lead with a 12-4 run, including a 3-pointer by Bridges to give them their first lead at 76-74 with 8:09 remaining in the quarter.
The Nets outscored the Lakers 38-22 in the third. That matched their best point differential in the quarter this season.
“We saw we had to get a little more physical on them and that’s what we did,” Thomas said. “Once we got physical, the energy picked out. We started getting turnovers, a lot of fast breaks and open 3s And we made them.”
The Nets trailed the entire first half, and at one point were down by 12 with four minutes left in the first quarter, before they rallied.
Thomas kept them in the game with 20 points in the first half on 9-of- 12 shooting. It was his sixth 20-point half of the season.
“He saved us in that first half with his ability to get open looks," Vaughn said. "When they got to the point where they started trapping him, we got some good looks out of that for others.”
Nic Claxton had 22 points and 14 rebounds. Spencer Dinwiddie scored 13 of his 19 points in the third quarter as the Nets won for the fifth time in their last six games on the Lakers' home court
The Nets - whose largest lead was 23 points late in the fourth quarter - had 19 3-pointers, including four apiece by Thomas, Dinwiddie and Mikal Bridges.
Anthony Davis had 26 points and 12 rebounds, and LeBron James added 24 points and 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who dropped back below .500 at 21-22. D’Angelo Russell had 20 points.
The Lakers had 10 of their 14 turnovers after halftime and shot 14 of 41 from the field, including 4 of 14 on 3-pointers.
“They were able to get into a rhythm, shot the ball from the perimeter well and Cam Thomas had a lot going on,” James said. “I thought us not getting stops affected our energy.”
Los Angeles is 7-13 since winning the inaugural NBA In-Season Tournament, the third-worst mark in the Western Conference.
James had a simple remedy for trying to get past this game quickly.
“Watch the NFL playoffs tomorrow,” he said.
UP NEXT
Nets: At Los Angeles Clippers on Sunday.
Lakers: Host Portland on Sunday night.
---
AP NBA: https://apnews.com/hub/nba
Copyright 2025 STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
12:00 | Nic Claxton vs. Anthony Davis (LeBron James gains possession) | |||
11:40 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point turnaround jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 0-2 | |
11:21 | Cameron Johnson misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
11:19 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
11:07 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point alley-oop dunk (LeBron James assists) | 0-4 | |
10:45 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
10:42 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
10:36 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
10:33 | Spencer Dinwiddie defensive rebound | |||
10:20 | Anthony Davis shooting foul (Dorian Finney-Smith draws the foul) | |||
10:20 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
10:20 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
10:20 | +1 | Dorian Finney-Smith makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 1-4 | |
10:03 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point turnaround hook shot | |||
10:03 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
9:58 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point hook shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 1-6 | |
9:42 | Mikal Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Anthony Davis steals) | |||
9:37 | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point running jump shot (Austin Reaves assists) | 1-9 | |
9:23 | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point stepback jump shot | 4-9 | |
9:03 | LeBron James misses two point fadeaway jump shot | |||
8:57 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
8:50 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
8:46 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
8:43 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point running layup (Anthony Davis assists) | 4-11 | |
8:32 | Taurean Prince kicked ball violation | |||
8:27 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:23 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
8:18 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point driving layup | 4-13 | |
8:17 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
8:00 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses two point driving dunk | |||
7:57 | Cameron Johnson offensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Mikal Bridges misses three point jump shot | |||
7:55 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
7:55 | Spencer Dinwiddie personal foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
7:34 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point pullup jump shot | |||
7:32 | Mikal Bridges defensive rebound | |||
7:27 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point running pullup jump shot | 7-13 | |
7:11 | LeBron James misses two point driving bank jump shot | |||
7:11 | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | |||
7:11 | Dorian Finney-Smith shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
7:11 | Anthony Davis misses regular free throw 1 of 2 | |||
7:11 | Lakers offensive rebound | |||
7:11 | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 7-14 | |
7:01 | Taurean Prince personal foul (Nic Claxton draws the foul) | |||
6:58 | Mikal Bridges turnover (bad pass) (Austin Reaves steals) | |||
6:54 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point running layup (Austin Reaves assists) | 7-16 | |
6:38 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Cam Thomas assists) | 9-16 | |
6:21 | +3 | Taurean Prince makes three point jump shot (LeBron James assists) | 9-19 | |
6:06 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 11-19 | |
5:48 | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point jump shot (Anthony Davis assists) | 11-22 | |
5:29 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Cam Thomas assists) | 13-22 | |
5:13 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point cutting dunk (Anthony Davis assists) | 13-24 | |
4:59 | +3 | Cam Thomas makes three point pullup jump shot | 16-24 | |
4:45 | Taurean Prince misses three point jump shot | |||
4:41 | Dorian Finney-Smith defensive rebound | |||
4:29 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 18-24 | |
4:10 | +2 | Austin Reaves makes two point stepback jump shot | 18-26 | |
3:50 | +3 | Cam Thomas makes three point jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 21-26 | |
3:39 | Harry Giles III technical foul (Defensive three second) | |||
3:39 | +1 | Austin Reaves makes technical free throw 1 of 1 | 21-27 | |
3:30 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point layup (Rui Hachimura assists) | 21-29 | |
3:04 | Royce O'Neale misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
3:01 | Austin Reaves defensive rebound | |||
2:49 | Rui Hachimura misses two point jump shot | |||
2:45 | Harry Giles III defensive rebound | |||
2:35 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point pullup jump shot | 23-29 | |
2:22 | +2 | Jarred Vanderbilt makes two point cutting dunk (Austin Reaves assists) | 23-31 | |
2:04 | Harry Giles III turnover (out of bounds lost ball) | |||
2:04 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
1:49 | D'Angelo Russell misses two point bank hook shot | |||
1:45 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
1:38 | +3 | Dennis Smith Jr. makes three point jump shot (Mikal Bridges assists) | 26-31 | |
1:25 | D'Angelo Russell turnover (bad pass) (Mikal Bridges steals) | |||
1:19 | Royce O'Neale misses three point running jump shot | |||
1:17 | Jarred Vanderbilt defensive rebound | |||
1:08 | Rui Hachimura turnover (lost ball) (Dennis Smith Jr. steals) | |||
1:04 | Dennis Smith Jr. turnover (bad pass) (D'Angelo Russell steals) | |||
0:57 | +3 | D'Angelo Russell makes three point jump shot (Anthony Davis assists) | 26-34 | |
0:47 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving floating jump shot | 28-34 | |
0:33 | +3 | Max Christie makes three point jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 28-37 | |
0:09 | Dennis Smith Jr. misses three point stepback jump shot | |||
0:09 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:09 | Nets turnover (shot clock violation) | |||
0:01 | D'Angelo Russell turnover (bad pass) (Dorian Finney-Smith steals) | |||
0:00 | Dorian Finney-Smith misses three point jump shot | |||
0:00 | Nets offensive rebound | |||
0:00 | End of period |
Time | Team | Play | Score | |
---|---|---|---|---|
11:42 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point hook shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 30-37 | |
11:23 | +2 | Jarred Vanderbilt makes two point layup (Christian Wood assists) | 30-39 | |
11:12 | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point cutting layup (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 32-39 | |
10:56 | +2 | D'Angelo Russell makes two point driving floating jump shot (Christian Wood assists) | 32-41 | |
10:47 | Cam Thomas misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
10:47 | Max Christie defensive rebound | |||
10:28 | Christian Wood misses three point jump shot | |||
10:25 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
10:16 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop dunk (Dennis Smith Jr. assists) | 34-41 | |
9:54 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point jump shot (Max Christie assists) | 34-44 | |
9:43 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point pullup jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 37-44 | |
9:29 | +3 | LeBron James makes three point pullup jump shot | 37-47 | |
9:13 | +2 | Lonnie Walker IV makes two point driving bank jump shot | 39-47 | |
8:57 | Max Christie misses three point jump shot | |||
8:54 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
8:42 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving layup (Lonnie Walker IV assists) | 41-47 | |
8:32 | Nic Claxton blocks Christian Wood's two point driving layup | |||
8:29 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
8:23 | Royce O'Neale misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
8:19 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
8:09 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 41-49 | |
7:55 | +3 | Lonnie Walker IV makes three point stepback jump shot (Cam Thomas assists) | 44-49 | |
7:43 | Lonnie Walker IV shooting foul (D'Angelo Russell draws the foul) | |||
7:43 | +1 | D'Angelo Russell makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-50 | |
7:43 | +1 | D'Angelo Russell makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-51 | |
7:28 | Nic Claxton misses two point alley-oop layup | |||
7:25 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
7:22 | D'Angelo Russell misses three point running jump shot | |||
7:19 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
7:12 | Nic Claxton misses two point driving hook shot | |||
7:10 | Christian Wood defensive rebound | |||
7:04 | LeBron James misses three point jump shot | |||
7:01 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
6:56 | Royce O'Neale misses three point jump shot | |||
6:53 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
6:45 | Christian Wood misses two point driving floating jump shot | |||
6:43 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
6:37 | Lonnie Walker IV misses three point jump shot | |||
6:35 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
6:35 | Cam Thomas personal foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
6:35 | Lakers 60 second timeout | |||
6:21 | Dennis Smith Jr. shooting foul (Anthony Davis draws the foul) | |||
6:21 | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 1 of 2 | 44-52 | |
6:21 | +1 | Anthony Davis makes regular free throw 2 of 2 | 44-53 | |
6:10 | Lonnie Walker IV turnover (bad pass) (Taurean Prince steals) | |||
6:07 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point running layup (Taurean Prince assists) | 44-55 | |
6:07 | Dennis Smith Jr. shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
6:07 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 44-56 | |
5:49 | +2 | Nic Claxton makes two point alley-oop layup (Mikal Bridges assists) | 46-56 | |
5:29 | LeBron James misses three point jump shot | |||
5:24 | Royce O'Neale defensive rebound | |||
5:21 | +3 | Mikal Bridges makes three point running pullup jump shot (Royce O'Neale assists) | 49-56 | |
5:03 | LeBron James misses two point turnaround fadeaway jump shot | |||
4:59 | Nic Claxton defensive rebound | |||
4:55 | Cameron Johnson misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:50 | LeBron James defensive rebound | |||
4:45 | Austin Reaves misses three point pullup jump shot | |||
4:38 | LeBron James offensive rebound | |||
4:33 | +2 | LeBron James makes two point driving layup | 49-58 | |
4:33 | Royce O'Neale shooting foul (LeBron James draws the foul) | |||
4:33 | +1 | LeBron James makes regular free throw 1 of 1 | 49-59 | |
4:14 | Spencer Dinwiddie misses three point jump shot | |||
4:10 | Anthony Davis defensive rebound | |||
4:08 | Royce O'Neale kicked ball violation | |||
4:00 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point dunk (Austin Reaves assists) | 49-61 | |
3:40 | +3 | Cameron Johnson makes three point jump shot (Spencer Dinwiddie assists) | 52-61 | |
3:16 | Austin Reaves misses three point jump shot | |||
3:13 | Cam Thomas defensive rebound | |||
3:06 | +2 | Cam Thomas makes two point driving floating jump shot | 54-61 | |
2:49 | Dorian Finney-Smith blocks Austin Reaves's two point driving layup | |||
2:45 | Anthony Davis offensive rebound | |||
2:45 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point putback layup | 54-63 | |
2:42 | Taurean Prince kicked ball violation | |||
2:42 | Nets 60 second timeout | |||
2:33 | Anthony Davis blocks Cam Thomas's two point driving layup | |||
2:28 | Taurean Prince defensive rebound | |||
2:25 | +2 | Anthony Davis makes two point floating jump shot (D'Angelo Russell assists) | 54-65 | |
2:04 | +3 | Spencer Dinwiddie makes three point jump shot (Dorian Finney-Smith assists) | 57-65 | |
1:36 |