Ziaire Williams returned simply in time for the Nets.
With lower than a minute to go Thursday evening and the Bucks trailing by a single level, the Nets compelled a missed shot from 6-foot-11 Giannis Antetokounmpo and Williams grabbed the rebound with 6.1 seconds remaining.
The 6-9, former No. 10-overall decide of the 2021 draft then hit each free throws to provide the Nets the lead earlier than Damian Lillard put up a desperation 3-pointer.
After lacking 12 video games and almost a month of time due to a knee damage, Williams added dimension in a contest with out Noah Clowney (again) and a game-winning end to the Nets’ beautiful 113-110 victory over the Bucks.
“It’s why we work so hard. It’s nothing new,” Williams mentioned of the ultimate minutes Thursday. “Just don’t overthink it, man. Just shoot it. I’m glad I was in that position, honestly. I love being in moments like that, playing down the stretch in big moments. Crowd’s screaming. Court rattling a little bit. It was fun. I knew it was going in before I even shot it. I’m in a great headspace right now and I miss being out there. Just a positive mindset and not taking the game for granted.”
The 23-year-old small ahead scored eight factors, grabbed six rebounds, blocked a shot and was a plus-12 throughout 19 minutes off the bench.
For the reason that Nets acquired Williams in July from the Grizzlies together with a 2030 second-round decide from Dallas in change for heart Mamadi Diakite and the draft rights to ahead Nemanja Dangubic, he has been an integral younger growth piece within the crew’s rebuilding course of.
Throughout 22 video games this season, he’s averaging 8.6 factors and 4.5 rebounds on 40 % capturing.
With Clowney out and if Cam Johnson misses time after struggling an ankle damage on Williams’ late-game rebound, Williams may see extra taking part in time for a crew that lacks in dimension and is about to face the 76ers and 7-foot Joel Embiid on Saturday.
“He made winning plays all over,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned of Williams. “His energy was contagious. His deflections. Obviously, he made a couple of big shots, 2-for-4 from three, and the six rebounds, being all over the place. He was amazing. A lot of times, it’s just thinking, ‘I’m going to do whatever it takes for our team to win,’ and he did, and he was a big part of the win. Obviously, those free throws at the end were huge.”
The Nets noticed additional defensive growth from Cam Thomas on Thursday.
The star guard matched a season excessive with seven rebounds, grabbed two steals, and took an offensive foul in his second sport off the bench since coming back from a hamstring damage.
“Very proud of him. I think his ball pressure and physicality have been better since the beginning of the season, and that’s what I want to see,” Fernandez mentioned. “I want to see growth and he’s shown it right now coming back from injury. … Rebounding was huge and all those plays defensively, that’s what we are going to need from him moving forward.”
Maxwell Lewis has been dominated out for Saturday with a left tibia fracture he suffered in Wednesday’s 130-113 loss to the Raptors.
Lewis was carried off the courtroom throughout the fourth quarter of his Nets debut in Wednesday’s 130-113 loss to the Raptors.
Clowney (left hip contusion) and Thomas (left hamstring pressure) have been listed as questionable. Johnson (proper ankle sprain) has been dominated uncertain.
The victory over the Bucks marked the Nets’ first time successful twice in Milwaukee in a single season since 2013-14.
The Nets held a 27-8 edge in factors off turnovers, marking their largest benefit and fewest factors allowed in that class this season.
