3 Nets takeaways from 105-99 overtime loss at the Pacers

Mar 20, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) shoots the ball while Indiana Pacers guard Andrew Nembhard (2) defends in the second half at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

The Brooklyn Nets (23-47) were hoping to get past a loss to the Boston Celtics on Tuesday in which Brooklyn was in position to win if it wasn't for the supporting players going off in the end. With Brooklyn going against the Indiana Pacers (40-29) for the first of two straight games on Thursday, the Nets had a chance to steal a win over an Indiana team missing Tyrese Haliburton.

Unfortunately, the Nets lost to the Pacers 105-99 in overtime as Brooklyn did not take advantage of an 11-point lead that they built in the first half as they couldn't sustain their play for 48 minutes. Ziaire Williams had 22 points, five rebounds, and two steals while D'Angelo Russell has 22 points and six assists. Brooklyn also saw a better effort out of Nic Claxton as he had six points, 14 rebounds, and two blocks.

The Nets managed to stay in the game despite Trendon Watford getting ejected in the fourth quarter after tensions boiled over, but they weren't able to stop Bennedict Mathurin, who had 19 of his 28 points in the second half and overtime period. Here are three Nets takeaways from Thursday's overtime loss at the Pacers:

D'Angelo Russell

Mar 20, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Brooklyn Nets guard D'Angelo Russell (1) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

D'Angelo Russell is an interesting player to discuss within the framework of the Nets' roster given that he is one of the players that presumably does not fit the timeline of a franchise in the early stages of a rebuild. Russell, 29, has been one of the veteran leaders of the team since coming to Brooklyn in a mid-season trade from the Los Angeles Lakers, but it seems like he is leaning more into his voice as time goes on.

Russell's last two games have shown what he is capable of from a scoring and passing standpoint, but it has also shown how inefficient he can be when his jumpshot isn't falling. Russell is averaging 20.0 points, 3.0 rebounds, and 6.5 assists per game over his last two outings, but he is also shooting just 32.5% from the field and 28.0% from three-point land.

Despite Russell's poor shooting recently, he is not losing sight of how important his leadership is to this team and he gave some advice that could help the team finish the season strong:

"Just watch the film and find ways we can win the game. I thought we had the game won at times where we just kind of had to focus on us and we easily got distracted by the momentum. A few calls, we got a little too low on it, and they came down with some high energy and just answered and responded. For us, (we're) finding a way to win games, not beat ourselves."

Ziaire Williams

Mar 20, 2025; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Brooklyn Nets forward Ziaire Williams (8) celebrates a made basket in the second half against the Indiana Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-Imagn Images

Ziaire Williams has been on fire since March began as it seems like he is finally becoming the consistent three-point shooter that the Nets were hoping he could be when they traded for him last offseason. Williams was worth taking a chance on due to his pedigree as the 10th overall pick in the 2021 NBA Draft, but earlier in the season, it looked like Williams was going to be similar to who he was with the Memphis Grizzlies.

However, the last three months have seen Williams average at least 10.4 points per game in each month and in March, he is averaging 13.0 points, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists per game while shooting 45.6% from the field and 37.1% from three-point land. After putting up 22 points, five rebounds, and two steals in a tough loss at the Pacers, Williams had made it clear that his confidence is back and that he's ready to meet the moment.

Here's what Williams had to say after the game when asked if he's feeling more confident as the season goes on:

"I'm just taking what the defense gives me. Not making it complicated. I got a great point guard in D'Lo feeding me the rock, and other guys looking for me, everyone giving me confidence. When you got the whole team yelling at you every time you don't shoot the ball, it definitely helps. It definitely is a team and collective effort."

Physical Game

Mar 15, 2025; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Brooklyn Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez during the first half against the Boston Celtics at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: John Jones-Imagn Images

While the Nets seem to revel in the games that operate like the one against the Pacers on Thursday in terms of the physicality and the referees letting the players play for the most part, it appeared that the game was getting out of control in the second half in multiple ways. For one, Brooklyn was not playing as well as it did in the first half and it looked like some of the players, notably Trendon Watford, were letting the intensity get to them.

Watford had one of his better games of the season and looked like he was on his way to having an even better game until he was tossed in the fourth quarter after picking up two technical fouls for shoving Andrew Nembhard and Myles Turner. Watford exited the game with 15 points, five rebounds, and two assists, but he wasn't able to finish the game after losing his cool at the wrong time.

Here's what head coach Jordi Fernandez had to say about how physical the game was on Thursday:

"13 shots from the free-throw line of difference with a team that we shot similar paint shots, they picked us up full-court. I find it hard to believe, but, it's part of the game, you know? That's something that I cannot control which way the whistle is going to go. We had a great veteran crew that have called a lot of games. For us, we have to worry about we can control and move on to the next one which is good because it's (against) the same team."

This article originally appeared on Nets Wire: 3 Nets takeaways from 105-99 overtime loss at the Pacers

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