OKLAHOMA CITY — In Ziaire Williams, the rebuilding Nets took a flier on a former lottery pick as a salary dump. He’s an athletic floor-running defender whose jumper has been his weakness. But if he can keep shooting the way he has lately, their gamble might come good.

For Lakers rookie Bronny James, the game was extra special as he got reunited with Nets forward Ziaire Williams, his former teammate at Sierra Canyon School in Los Angeles. After the matchup, James and Williams exchanged jerseys and posed for a picture. The Lakers guard posted it on his Instagram story.

Here are three Brooklyn Nets takeaways from Friday's 102-101 loss at the Los Angeles Lakers in D'Angelo Russell's return to Los Angeles.

Despite a close miss by D'Angelo Russell, the Nets lost to the Lakers 102-101 in what was supposed to be a revenge game for Russell, who had 19 points, six rebounds, and eight assists off the bench. Ziaire Williams had 15 points and Tosan Evbuomwan had 15 points and six rebounds off the bench to continue his impressive stretch for Brooklyn after being one of the team's recent Two-Way signings.

Kawhi Leonard and Norman Powell had 27 points each and the Los Angeles Clippers rallied to beat the San Antonio Spurs 128-116 on Wednesday night.

The Hornets, who have lost four of their last five games, were without guard LaMelo Ball, who left with a sprained left ankle in Monday's loss to the Los Angeles Lakers. The team announced Wednesday that Ball would be re-evaluated in one week.

Williams will make his 17th start of the 2024-25 campaign for the Nets on Wednesday on the road in Charlotte. In 16 games as a starter ahead of the matchup with the Hornets, the 23-year-old has averaged 11.

The Los Angeles Clippers snapped the Milwaukee Bucks' 5-game win streak with a 127-117 victory Saturday night.

Williams returned Saturday from a two-game absence due to a sprained left ankle, but he wasn't able to connect on any of his five field-goal attempts. He started in his last nine outings prior to his injury,

Prior to the Brooklyn Nets retiring Vince Carter's jersey, Ziaire Williams, Jalen Wilson, and Jordi Fernandez give their various thoughts on him.

The Washington Wizards have a fresh new look. After cleaning house in the front office, for the first time in a long time, there is hope within the organization

It's officially trade season in the NBA. And with each passing week, it feels more likely a Jimmy Butler deal might just be the tip of an iceberg.