Mikel Brown Jr. Stalls in Fourth Quarter as Nets Drop Second Straight
The rookie guard missed all four final-quarter 3-pointers in a 103-90 loss to Indiana, extending his season-long slump to a 31.6 field goal percentage.
By Andrew Yang ·
Mikel Brown Jr. watched the Brooklyn Nets miss their first victory of the season from the bench on Sunday in Indiana, a precautionary rest following a back injury that had sidelined him for 14 games during his time at Louisville. His return to action on Monday at Madison Square Garden did not bring the immediate results he sought.
The No. 6 overall pick started strong, scoring 13 points on 5-for-9 shooting to give Brooklyn a lead entering the fourth quarter. The momentum reversed quickly in the final period, as Brown missed each of the four 3-point attempts he took. He also failed to attack the rim during that stretch, contributing to a 103-90 defeat.
Brown finished the game 1-for-8 from deep, leaving him shooting 31.6 percent from the field across his first five games with the Nets. Head coach Jordi Fernández emphasized the dual role Brown must fill, noting that the young guard must balance aggression with the responsibility of running the offense.
“I think Mikel’s a rock star,” Fernández said. “He’s gonna keep taking steps. And right now, we always want him to be aggressive, but he has the responsibility to run the team, and that’s a big deal. And you have to communicate. … Every shot that is good, every shot that is not good, it falls a little bit on you, right?”
Brown acknowledged the ongoing adjustment period, stating he is still growing and learning. “I’m doing what I love every single night, and to be able to play in this type of environment, I’m just extremely blessed,” he said.
The game also marked the Garden debut for Julius Randle, who received cheers during pregame introductions. Randle, who previously helped lead the Knicks to their first playoff appearance in eight years, finished with 21 points and 13 rebounds on 5-for-16 shooting. He expressed appreciation for the reception from the Manhattan crowd, citing great memories from his previous five seasons with the franchise.
Egor Dëmin missed his third consecutive game due to a right leg bone bruise.
