Cameron Johnson scored 18 points, including a crucial foul line jumper over Luka Doncic with 59.1 seconds left, as the Brooklyn Nets ended their seven-game skid by securing a 111-108 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday night in New York.
Johnson hit 6-of-14 shots, with none more significant than the 14-footer over Doncic that put the Nets ahead 106-100. His key shot provided Brooklyn some cushion before Doncic drilled a deep 35-foot three-pointer with 11.1 seconds remaining, cutting the Lakers’ deficit to 108-106.
Following Doncic’s long-range shot, the Lakers had another opportunity when Austin Reaves made a layup with 3.0 seconds left. Johnson then missed two free throws with 2.1 seconds remaining, but the game concluded when Doncic’s desperate 76-foot heave fell well short.
Doncic notched his second triple-double as a Laker, finishing with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and 12 assists, but he struggled shooting, hitting just 8-of-26 from the field. The Lakers faced difficulties in the final three quarters while playing their first game since LeBron James suffered a left groin injury.
Gabe Vincent posted a season-high 24 points for the Lakers, who shot 43.5 percent as a team. Rookie Dalton Knecht contributed 19 points, while Reaves struggled at 3-of-14 from the field, ending with 17.
Noah Clowney paced the Nets with 19 points, while Keon Johnson tallied 18. Tyrese Martin and Nic Claxton each added 14, as Brooklyn shot 41.1 percent and erased an early 15-point deficit.
Vincent scored 13 in the first quarter while Doncic missed six of his nine shots, helping the Lakers build a 28-16 lead. The Nets responded by outscoring Los Angeles 32-19 in the second, taking a 48-47 halftime lead after Johnson drained a three-pointer with 66 seconds left.
Brooklyn held two separate eight-point leads early in the third quarter. After 12 lead changes, the Nets entered the fourth ahead 81-79 when Martin sank a three with 24 seconds remaining.
The Nets extended their lead to 92-85 when Johnson drove past Doncic for an easy dunk with seven minutes left. Reaves’ three free throws trimmed the deficit to 97-95 with 3:51 to play, but D’Angelo Russell hit a three-pointer with 91 seconds left, pushing Brooklyn’s lead to 104-98 before Johnson’s clutch basket
sealed the win.
