By R.L. Bynum
Cam Johnson had his best game of the season as the Brooklyn Nets fight to earn the last play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
Johnson scored season-highs of 29 points and seven 3-pointers as the Nets rolled to a 124–97 home win Thursday over the Atlanta Hawks in the first home game since Kevin Ollie took over as head coach for the fired Jacque Vaughn.
Johnson, who produced a season-high 25.6 game score, has started the last two games after coming off the bench the previous four games since coming back from missing four games with an adductor injury. He was 10 of 15 from the floor with four assists and two steals.
The Nets (23–26) are 11th in the Eastern Conference, three games behind Atlanta (26–33), which currently holds 10th place, the last play-in-game spot. The teams play again at 3 p.m. Saturday, and Johnson is averaging 23 points and five 3-pointers against the Hawks.
“We have to put that urgency from here on out on the rest of the season,” said Johnson, who was 10 of 15 from the floor, 7 of 11 from 3-point range and had four assists and two steals. “It’s unfortunate, but we dug ourselves a hole, and it’s not what we think our group is capable of.
“So, we have to find a way out of that and maybe do a little bit extra,” Johnson said. [Thursday] is just the start. It doesn’t mean anything if we don’t follow it up with the next game, the following game, keeping that energy high.”
Johnson scored 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting as Brooklyn took a 34–16 lead after the first quarter. After leading by six at halftime, the Nets outscored the Hawks by 13 in the third quarter to pull away.
“It feels good,” said Johnson, when asked about starting his second straight game. “What you’re looking for is rhythm. Rhythm and feel of the game. It slows down for you anytime you’re in your comfortable spaces and comfortable roles. You’re able to process quicker, more efficiently and sometimes good results follow that. So just playing off the guys and just playing with a little bit more joy.”
It was Johnson’s best game since scoring 31 points in Brooklyn’s home win against Houston on March 29, 2023.
Day’Ron Sharpe came off the bench to collect 12 points, eight rebounds and four assists for his first double-figure scoring game since scoring 11 against Portland on Jan. 7. Sharpe missed 15 games from early January until early February with a hyperextended left knee.
Photo via @BrooklynNets
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