NEW ORLEANS — In a thrilling matchup on Monday night, Cam Thomas emerged as a standout for the Brooklyn Nets, scoring 10 of his 17 points during a decisive fourth quarter. His key 3-pointer in the final minute propelled the Nets to a narrow victory over the New Orleans Pelicans, concluding the game with a score of 107-105. This defeat pushed the Pelicans’ losing streak to five games, while the Nets managed to break their own two-game losing streak with this win.

Cameron Johnson and Noah Clowney each contributed significantly with 15 points, while Dennis Schroder added 14 points to the Nets’ effort. Despite Brandon Ingram’s impressive performance, leading the Pelicans with 24 points, his influence waned in the second half where he was limited to just two points from free throws. Rookie center Yves Missi had a standout night, achieving career highs with 17 points and 11 rebounds, and Jeremiah Robinson-Earl chipped in with 15 points. However, the Pelicans struggled offensively, failing to score in the last 3:35 of the game.

Brandon Boston Jr. played a pivotal role for New Orleans, delivering 10 assists, and his remarkable 27-foot 3-pointer followed by a dunk — stemming from a steal by Missi — temporarily gave the Pelicans a 105-101 advantage. However, their offense faltered down the stretch, missing their final eight attempts as the Nets clawed their way back for the win.

Noteworthy observations from the game included a balanced scoring effort from the Nets, with seven players reaching double digits. Both former LSU stars made an impact, with Thomas delivering crucial scoring and Ben Simmons facilitating the offense with an impressive 12 assists. On the Pelicans’ side, Trey Murphy III made his season debut following a right hamstring injury from training camp. He managed to score 12 points, but had a challenging night, hitting only 4 of 14 shots, including 2 of 6 from beyond the arc.

The turning point of the contest came when Thomas executed a step-back 3-pointer in transition over Pelicans forward Javonte Green, securing the lead for Brooklyn at 106-105 with just 32.5 seconds left on the clock.

A key statistic that stood out was the Nets’ impressive shooting from beyond the arc, hitting 45.2% of their 3-point attempts and outscoring the Pelicans from long range by a margin of 57 to 30. Clowney notably emerged as a sharpshooter, knocking down five 3-pointers throughout the game, more than he had made in the entire season prior to this matchup.

Looking ahead, the Nets will face the Boston Celtics in their next game on Wednesday night, while the Pelicans will travel to Oklahoma City on the same evening.