The roar of the crowd filled the stadium as Cam Thomas effortlessly drove for a simple layup in the third quarter Saturday, adding two more points to his impressive total of 21 points in the period. The 76ers called a timeout, but Mikal Bridges walked from the corner applauding as the Nets led by a commanding 23 points.
What’s most intriguing is the growing synergy between the scoring powerhouses of Thomas and Bridges in recent weeks. In the past, one of them would often score at the expense of the other, but now they’ve found a way to cook together, wreaking havoc on opposing defenses.
In fact, over the last nine games, both players have scored at least 20 points seven times. Bridges and Thomas have each tallied 20 points in the last three games and five out of the last seven entering Monday’s game against Golden State.
“I think this is only the beginning, there’s more reps, more time,” Bridges said at shootaround Monday. “But it’s been good. I think just him being out there in our starting lineup makes it easy, too. Where you got two guys and they got to worry about it.”
Thomas recently stepped into the starting lineup due to Dorian Finney-Smith’s ankle injury and has thrived in his new role. Despite expressing some frustration over his changing role, he’s responded with two 30-point games as a starter, including an impressive 40-point performance on Saturday.
But it’s not just about individual performance. Over the past nine games, Thomas and Bridges have discovered a chemistry where both of them can thrive as scorers. Thomas is averaging an impressive 25.2 points while Bridges follows closely with 24.1 points.
What makes their partnership even more thrilling is the way in which they have approached their scoring. Thomas has been remarkably efficient, shooting 54.1% from the field and 42.9% on three-pointers. Despite not heavily relying on threes, he has shown significant improvement in his three-point shooting.
While Thomas has been lighting up the scoreboard, Bridges has leaned heavier on threes. His three-point attempts per game have increased to 10.1 during the last nine games, and he’s excelled with a 44% shooting percentage from beyond the arc.
Their performance has made the Nets a more potent force, especially with Ben Simmons back healthy. Coach Jacque Vaughn is pleased with the pair’s progress. He believes they’re learning how to play within the flow of the offense and devise ways to be productive.
As the season continues, it’s clear that Thomas and Bridges are an unstoppable duo, leaving defenses in a bind as they try to contain these two scoring machines. The promise they have shown over the last three weeks is a testament to their potential as a deadly pairing for the Nets.
Written by Evan Barnes, a seasoned sports journalist who covers the Nets for Newsday, it is evident that Thomas and Bridges are becoming a force to be reckoned with in the world of basketball.
