Cam Johnson made an impressive return for the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday night, scoring 24 points after missing five games due to a right ankle sprain. His performance helped the Nets secure a commanding 132-114 victory over the Portland Trail Blazers, breaking a five-game losing streak.
The Nets got additional firepower from Keon Johnson and rookie Noah Clowney, who each contributed 20 points. On the other side, Portland’s Scoot Henderson was on fire, racking up a career-high 39 points, including an incredible eight 3-pointers.
Ben Simmons was a question mark going into the game due to ongoing issues with his lower back and left knee, but he suited up and made an impact with five points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds. However, he won’t be playing in Wednesday’s matchup against the Clippers.
Portland had a scare with rookie Donovan Clingan, who left the game twice—first after being hit in the face in the first quarter and later after another hard fall near the end. Despite his efforts to stay on the court, his night ended early.
The Nets started strong, building a 16-point lead in the first half. But the Blazers fought back, closing the gap to just five points at halftime, trailing 66-61. Even with the pressure, Brooklyn never relinquished their lead.
A turning point came late in the game when Portland trimmed Brooklyn’s lead to 112-103 after a basket from Toumani Camara, who had a career-high 23 points. But the Nets quickly shut down any hopes of a comeback. D’Angelo Russell stepped up with clutch free throws and a deep 3-pointer, followed by Keon Johnson’s triple that extended the lead to 120-105 with just under four minutes left, putting the game out of reach.
Scoot Henderson had a blazing start for the Blazers, scoring 17 points in the first quarter alone and hitting all eight of his initial shots. By halftime, he had already surpassed his previous season high with 25 points.
Despite injuries affecting both teams—Nic Claxton sat out for the Nets with a sore hamstring, and Portland’s Deni Avdija missed the game after tweaking his ankle in practice—Brooklyn managed to secure the win, fueled by strong teamwork and key moments in crunch time.
