Cleveland offered the benchmark Thursday night, and the Nets quickly saw the difference. Brooklyn fell 112-84 to the Cavaliers at Rocket Arena, dropping to 15-38 and snapping the brief momentum created by back-to-back wins before the All-Star break. The Nets never led, and what unfolded felt less li ke a competitive game and more like a snapshot of where a young roster stands against a veteran group that knows exactly who it is. That contrast was visible from the opening minutes. Nolan Traoré and Egor Dëmin shared the floor across from Donovan Mitchell and James Harden, a pairing that underscored the opportunity as much as the gap. By the end of the night, Mitchell and Harden had combined for 33 points, while Traoré and Dëmin finished with eight and 10, respectively, in a game that doubled as another learning environment for Brooklyn’s rookie backcourt. The tone was set almost immediately. Cleveland opened with an 8-0 run, and Brooklyn didn’t score until Noah Clowney drilled a 3-pointer at the 10:02 mark. Even that moment did little to slow the Cavaliers’ rhythm. Cleveland didn’t miss its first non-free throw attempt until 7:01 remained in the quarter, already holding a 16-10 edge by that point. It only got worse from there. Brooklyn’s offense never found traction in the opening period, regardless of lineup combinations. The Nets shot just 24% from the floor while Cleveland connected on 61.9%, with Jarrett Allen already in double figures and Mitchell and Dean Wade not far behind. The quarter closed with Brooklyn staring at a 34-16 deficit and searching for anything that resembled flow. There was a brief flicker in the second. A 14-6 push cut into the margin and hinted at a response, but Cleveland quickly shut that door. Kenny Atkinson called timeout, and his team answered with a 7-0 run that restored a 21-point cushion. By halftime, the Cavaliers were in full control at 70-48, fueled by a 64.3% shooting performance and double-digit scoring from Allen, Mitchell and Harden. Michael Porter Jr. was the lone Net in double figures at the break, eventually finishing with a team-high 14 points on 5-for-10 shooting. Brooklyn’s issues extended beyond shot-making. Defensive rotations lagged, second efforts were inconsistent and the Cavaliers repeatedly punished mismatches around the rim and along the perimeter. Ochai Agbaji offered one of the few bright spots, scoring 13 points on 5-for-8 shooting in his second game with the Nets, a glimpse of the energy and efficiency Brooklyn hopes he can bring off the bench. The third quarter removed any remaining suspense. Just over two minutes in, Dean Wade knocked down another 3-pointer that stretched Cleveland’s lead to 29 and forced Jordi Fernández to burn a timeout. The Cavaliers crossed the 100-point mark with 1:49 left in the period while Brooklyn sat at 59, and the 32-19 frame created a 35-point gap heading into the fourth. From there, both teams turned to their reserves, the result long decided. Nic Claxton’s absence due to a right ankle sprain opened the door for Day’Ron Sharpe’s fifth start of the season, but Brooklyn struggled to compensate for the defensive presence and interior stability Claxton typically provides. The Cavaliers took advantage, generating efficient looks early and maintaining control throughout. For Dëmin and Traoré, the stat line was modest. Ten points and five rebounds for Dëmin in 25 minutes, eight points and five rebounds for Traoré in 30. But the context mattered more. Nights like this serve as checkpoints, offering a clearer view of pace, physicality and decision-making against seasoned competition. The Nets now move on quickly and will face the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday at Paycom Center, another challenge waiting for a roster still piecing together its identity one possession at a time. ...read more read less