NBA: Nets avoid 0-3 with controlling win against Bucks

Cam Thomas scored 32 points as the Brooklyn Nets led for virtually the entire second half and pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 115-102 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Bucks on Sunday night.

After struggling in the second halves at Atlanta and Orlando, the Nets gave new coach Jordi Fernandez his first career win by outscoring Milwaukee 32-24 in the fourth.

Dennis Schroder added 29. The veteran guard made 8-of-15 shots and along with Thomas the duo combined to hit 18-of-36 shots and sink seven of Brooklyn's 16 3s while going 18-of-19 from the free throw line

Noah Clowney and Cameron Johnson contributed 13 apiece for the Nets, who shot 42.9 percent overall. Nic Claxton contributed 10 and 11 rebounds as the Nets avoided their first 0-3 start since dropping their first seven games of the 2015-2016 season under Lionel Hollins.

Giannis Antetokounmpo led the Bucks with 22 points, 12 rebounds and seven assists but never got a chance to dominate. Damian Lillard added 21, reserve Bobby Portis contributed 16 and former Net Brook Lopez chipped in 15 as the Bucks shot 44.6 percent, missed 23 of 33 3-point tries and committed 18 turnovers

Milwaukee saw a five-game winning streak over the Nets stopped and lost for only the third time in the past 12 regular-season meetings since its overtime win in Game 7 of the second round in the 2021 playoffs.

After taking a two-point lead through the opening quarter, Schroder scored 11 in the second and the Nets held a 48-45 lead by halftime. Brooklyn briefly lost a six-point lead midway through the third and took an 83-78 lead into the fourth when Thomas sank a deep 3-pointer with 7.9 seconds left.

A 3 by Portis got Milwaukee within 83-81 less than a minute into the fourth but the Nets gradually surged ahead.

Brooklyn pushed the lead to 94-85 on a 3 by Thomas with 8:38 left and his 3-point play gave the Nets a 99-85 lead with 7:04 left. Schroder's 3 extended the lead to 104-88 with 5:21 left and about two minutes later Milwaukee pulled its starters ahead of Monday's visit to Boston. — Field Level Media/Reuters