Spencer Dinwiddie and the Brooklyn Nets climb to the ninth seed in the Eastern Conference, defeating the Detroit Pistons in an overtime thriller.
- Brooklyn Nets 120 (3-5)
- Detroit Pistons 119 (4-3)
- NBA, East, Final, Box Score
- Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
In one of the best games of this NBA season, the Brooklyn Nets defeated the Detroit Pistons, 120-119, thanks to the heroics of Spencer Dinwiddie and the rest of this young Nets roster.
This wasn’t your typical 2019 NBA regular season game, though. In a league that has become heavily defined by three-point shooting, the Brooklyn Nets shot a discouraging 31.6 percent from behind the arch while the Pistons only shot 32.4 percent.
This game was instead an old-school, bruising game of physicality where both teams put up 110 rebounds in total. This was highlighted by the Detroit Pistons’ Andre Drummond, who ripped down an astounding 23 rebounds.
For a majority of the second half, the Brooklyn Nets were down by ten points. With every Nets’ push on offense, the Pistons would counter with an equally potent offensive possession. The game was starting to resemble Monday’s game against the New York Knicks, where the young Brooklyn team couldn’t quite get over the hump.
That all changed until Spencer Dinwiddie caught fire.
With three minutes left in the game, Spencer Dinwiddie received the ball via a hand-off from Center, Jarret Allen. Feeling the defender on his hip, Dinwiddie snaked around Allen’s pick and elevated for a three-pointer.
ALL FOUR FOR @SDinwiddie_25.#WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/C8Vb2C5qiy
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 1, 2018
Bang.
With that, the Nets deficit was suddenly within three and the team was closing in on a seemingly safe Pistons’ lead.
However, the Pistons were able to maintain their three-point advantage. With twenty seconds left in the game and the score 110-107 in favor of the Pistons, it seemed that the Nets were all but destined to suffer their sixth loss the of the season.
Then, the savior of Brooklyn struck again, goatee and all.
??? pic.twitter.com/DFXP7c28hd
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) November 1, 2018
Spencer Dinwiddie, the man who was originally drafted by the Pistons in the second round of the 2014 NBA Draft, sunk the crucial three-pointer to send the game into overtime.
in the overtime period, neither team was able to break away and secure the victory. The Pistons’ star, Blake Griffin, showed signs of why he was a 2014 NBA MVP candidate and used his shrewd hesitation moves in the paint.
With 11 seconds left in the overtime period, the Nets were once again staring defeat in the face, down 119-117 against the Pistons.
The hero of the night, Spencer Dinwiddie, received the ball at near-midcourt with ten seconds on the clock remaining.
With 2018 NBA All-Star, and Mount Vernon native, Andre Drummond defending, Spencer Dinwiddie chose to isolate against Detroit’s center.
Nets fans, I’m sure you know what came next …
Spencer Dinwiddie, FOR THE WIN! pic.twitter.com/Sal9zhCvv9
— Legion Hoops (@LegionHoops) November 1, 2018
Upon making a heroic three, Dinwiddie elected to guard Blake Griffin in a battle of isolation. Even with being at a near-50 pound disadvantage, Dinwiddie was able to hold his ground and force Griffin into a missed shot. Game.
For one night, contract-year Spencer Dinwiddie was one of the many, many heroes in the NBA. Let’s keep this guy around, okay Sean Marks?
