The Nets were 19-point underdogs entering Tuesday's matchup against the league-best Milwaukee Bucks. But they played like they were the favorites, emerging victorious 119-116 in a stunner over the Eastern Conference title favorites.
The Nets upset the Bucks without their three best available players: Caris LeVert (thigh), Joe Harris (back) and Jarrett Allen (rest).
It's interim head coach Jacque Vaughn's signature win, and he's only five games into his campaign to retain the job.
Vaughn and his Nets studied the Bucks as they lost 120-116 to the Rockets on Sunday. The team came to a conclusion: Milwaukee will give up the three, and they're going to drive _ and drive hard _ so they needed to pack the paint with force.
The Nets took the three, and made it with regularity, shooting 55 of them and making 21. Vaughn said he wanted to test Giannis Antetokounmpo's ability to be unselfish. His Nets packed the paint, going to a zone and forcing the other starters on the floor to make plays.
Khris Middleton shot 3-of-8 and Eric Bledsoe shot 1-of-5. Bucks head coach Mike Budenholzer opted to take both his All-Stars in Antetokounmpo and Middleton out of the game in the second half.
Vaughn said he wanted to test Garrett Temple's veteran leadership. Temple started cold but began heating up, then acting up, running off with 19 points and hitting five of his 11 three-point attempts. He hit the game-winning shot to give Brooklyn a three-point lead with seven seconds to go.
This Bucks game was Vaughn's biggest test yet, entering without his best players against a legitimate NBA title contender in Milwaukee. But he delivered in Brooklyn's unlikeliest win on their schedule.
The Nets don't have much time to dwell. The win against the Bucks was their first of a back-to-back, and they'll play the Celtics on Wednesday.
But they can rest and enjoy at least one night off. This was the Nets' best win of the season, and they're only getting started.
