NBA: Nets push past Grizzlies for rare winning streak

Day'Ron Sharpe tied a season high with 19 points as the Brooklyn Nets pulled away for a 126-115 victory over the Memphis Grizzlies on Monday in New York.

Brooklyn followed up a comeback from a 23-point deficit in Detroit two nights earlier by winning consecutive games for the first time since early February. The Nets prevailed while resting Michael Porter Jr. and after announcing that Egor Demin would be shut down for the season with a foot injury.

Sharpe went 8-of-11 from the field, highlighted by a one-handed dunk over Rayan Rupert to give Brooklyn a 98-88 lead with 10:33 remaining. Ochai Agbaji added a season-high 18 points on 8-of-9 shooting, scoring nine straight points capped by a step-back 3-pointer for a 110-95 lead with eight minutes left.

Rookie Nolan Traore hit four of Brooklyn’s 16 3-pointers and finished with 17 points. Danny Wolf contributed 14 points, nine of them in the third quarter, along with nine rebounds. Ziaire Williams added 11 points against his former team as Brooklyn’s reserves totaled 67 points. The Nets shot a season-best 55.3% overall and 51.5% from three-point range.

Memphis, playing without Ty Jerome (calf), Scotty Pippen Jr. (toe), and rookie Cedric Coward (knee), saw Rayan Rupert lead with a career-high 20 points. Javon Small added 19, GG Jackson had 18, Jaylen Wells scored 17, and rookie Walton Clayton Jr. finished with 13. The Grizzlies shot 43.5% from the field and 40% from three, giving up 27 points off 15 turnovers in their fourth straight loss.

Brooklyn overcame an early 10-point deficit, closing the first quarter with a 33-31 lead after Williams hit a three-pointer with five seconds remaining. Traore’s three-pointer gave the Nets a 49-39 advantage in the second quarter. Wolf converted a three-point play late in the period to extend the lead to 13, and Brooklyn held a 65-57 edge at halftime.

Despite letting the lead shrink to one on three occasions, Brooklyn entered the fourth quarter ahead 91-86, powered by a strong performance from Wolf.

-Field Level Media/Reuters