Cam Thomas says he does not deal with the Knicks any in another way than another group or the Backyard any in another way than another constructing.
However his play says in any other case.
As a substitute of wilting below the highlight, the younger Nets guard blossomed right into a star each time he took the stage on this planet’s most well-known enviornment.
Friday famous Thomas second 40-point performance at the Garden in just over six monthsand the Nets might use a 3rd in Sunday’s rematch.
“Yeah, he is not afraid of the intense lights,” Nets coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned of Thomas. “And I can inform you that from the primary shot he took [on Friday]. And his teammates knew we needed to discover him. I attempted to do every thing I might to assist him, to seek out him. Apparently they put OG [Anunoby] on him, who’s an excellent defender and really bodily, and he nonetheless discovered a strategy to rating.
“The nice factor is that you’ve one other probability to do it once more in opposition to the identical group. They may really feel the identical approach after which he should come again and play once more. Such a tremendous efficiency by CT and really comfortable as a result of from the start he stored us alive.’
Thomas scored 43 factors on Friday to steer Knicks star Jaylen Brunson.
He shot 16-for-22 and a scorching 7-for-10 from deep, solely to see Brunson hit a go-ahead 3-pointer with simply six seconds left.
“That is dope, among the finest guards within the league. You all the time attempt to play properly in opposition to these sort of matchups,” mentioned Thomas, who did not make the ultimate shot for the Nets.
With no timeout, they needed to punt the ball and it ended with a Dennis Schroder fumble on the buzzer, with Thomas by no means getting an opportunity to reply.
However he’ll get his probability to reply in Sunday’s rematch, with Brooklyn taking part in with out Nick Claxton and shedding 4 of its final 5.
“Simply staying aggressive,” Thomas shrugged. “They guarded exhausting, switched, switched, a number of defenders in opposition to me, blitzing. So I simply needed to determine it out. However I simply needed to return out, be aggressive after which simply set the tone early.
“First [NBA] Cup recreation, we simply wish to set the tone early. So I did an excellent job, a good job. However you all the time wish to win on the finish of the day. So, however the good factor is we’ll play them once more on Sunday so we will get some redemption. So I can not anticipate that.”
Thomas’ 41-point recreation in opposition to the Knicks on April 12 was the best scoring effort in internet on the Backyard.
Friday’s efficiency not solely surpassed that, but additionally tied John Williamson for the franchise’s second-best complete in opposition to the Knicks, behind solely Kevin Durant’s 53 in 2022.
Just one different customer has extra 40-point video games on the Backyard earlier than turning 24: Wilt Chamberlain. So does the laconic Thomas get pleasure from being Nick’s villain?
“No, I’ve by no means been the kind of particular person to try this. I simply attempt to play with whoever performs there, irrespective of the place we play. I am simply attempting to present [my best]give my greatest and play to the very best of my skill, irrespective of who it’s,” mentioned Thomas, who admitted he loved a second of recognition taking part in with NFL nice Tom Brady.
“[It] it was sort of silly to see Tom Brady. I used to be an enormous Tom Brady fan rising up. I do not often act like this with folks, however this was nonetheless fairly dope. He gave me a slight look once I hit 3 too. So it was actually an excellent second for me, for certain. However it’s not a lot of a recreation [in the Garden]; simply wherever i play what [team] I am taking part in, I simply wish to give my greatest, be aggressive and attempt to assist the group win.”
