Nets rout Pelicans 145-111 as Egor Demin returns with 22 points

The Brooklyn Nets beat the New Orleans Pelicans 145-111 on Wednesday night, according to the Associated Press, extending the Pelicans' losing streak to four games.

Egor Demin came back after missing six games with a bone bruise in his leg and scored 22 points. Michael Porter Jr. also had 22. Julius Randle added 17, while Noah Clowney and Moritz Wagner scored 16 each. Eight Nets players reached double figures.

Brooklyn shot 57% from the field and went 20 for 41 from three-point range, with nine players making at least one. Porter and Demin led the way with four apiece.

The Nets led 83-66 at halftime. That was their highest first-half total since they scored 91 against Golden State on Dec. 21, 2022, and the third most in a first half in franchise history. They stretched the lead to 124-84 in the fourth quarter on a 17-1 run.

Zion Williamson scored 29 for New Orleans, and Saddiq Bey had 15. The Pelicans have allowed 138 points or more in three straight games and have lost their last two by more than 30. On Sunday they lost 138-87 to Golden State, a franchise-record 51-point defeat.

Pelicans wing Trey Murphy III missed his second straight game with knee soreness. Rookie Jaron Pierre Jr., a New Orleans native, scored his first NBA basket.

The Nets visit Memphis on Saturday night to end a four-game road trip. The Pelicans host Memphis on Friday night.