Nets hold off Bucks 96-90 behind E.J. Liddell

The Brooklyn Nets beat the Milwaukee Bucks 96-90 on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, at Barclays Center, with E.J. Liddell leading all scorers with 21 points in a steady home win. Brooklyn built its edge across the middle quarters and did enough late to hold off Milwaukee’s final push.

Quarter-by-quarter breakdown

First quarter: Brooklyn took a narrow 30-29 lead after one in a fast-opening period. Both teams found enough offense early, but the Nets were slightly more efficient and stayed in front by a possession.

Second quarter: The game shifted here. Brooklyn outscored Milwaukee 19-14 in the quarter and carried a 49-43 lead into halftime. The Nets limited the Bucks’ half-court rhythm and turned a one-point margin into a more comfortable six-point advantage.

Third quarter: Brooklyn kept control coming out of the break, winning the quarter 21-19. That pushed the lead to 70-62 entering the fourth, as the Nets continued to get timely scoring and avoided the kind of empty stretch that could have brought Milwaukee level.

Fourth quarter: Milwaukee made one last run with a 28-point final period, but Brooklyn answered enough key possessions to close out a 96-90 result. The Bucks trimmed the margin late, yet the Nets’ earlier work gave them enough cushion to finish the job without overtime.

Key performers

Brooklyn Nets: E.J. Liddell paced Brooklyn with 21 points and was the game’s top scorer. Tyson Etienne led the team with six rebounds, while Malachi Smith added four assists to help organize the offense. As a team, the Nets shot 44.0% from the field, made nine 3-pointers, and stood out at the line by going 21-for-23 on free throws.

Milwaukee Bucks: AJ Green scored 20 points to lead Milwaukee, while Taurean Prince posted 16 points and 11 rebounds for a double-double. Jericho Sims handed out six assists, a team high, as the Bucks finished with 25 assists and a 44-32 rebounding advantage. Milwaukee also made 15 3-pointers, but limited free-throw production and a quiet second quarter proved costly.

NerdSports Stat: Milwaukee made six more 3-pointers and grabbed 12 more rebounds than Brooklyn, but the Nets still won by six because they outscored the Bucks 21-5 at the free-throw line.

Game analysis

This was a good example of how efficiency in specific areas can outweigh broader volume numbers. Milwaukee attempted more shots, won the rebound battle, and moved the ball well enough to finish with 25 assists. On the surface, those are usually winning indicators.

But Brooklyn controlled the details that mattered most. The Nets committed to getting to the line and converted at a 91.3% clip, while the Bucks went just 5-for-8 on free throws. That 16-point gap at the stripe was decisive in a six-point game.

Brooklyn also kept the game on its terms after halftime. The Nets did not need a huge scoring explosion; they simply maintained their margin, won the second and third quarters, and made Milwaukee chase the game. Even when the Bucks put together a stronger offensive fourth quarter, Brooklyn had enough composure to answer.

For Milwaukee, the 15 made 3-pointers helped keep things close, and the 44 rebounds showed consistent effort on the glass. Still, the 14-point second quarter left too much ground to make up. Against a team protecting a lead at home, that kind of lull can shape the entire night.

Closing context

The win moves Brooklyn to 20-59 overall and 12-28 at home, while Milwaukee drops to 31-48 and 13-26 on the road. For the Nets, this was a positive late-season result built on discipline and free-throw efficiency. For the Bucks, the loss highlighted how hard it is to overcome a slow middle stretch even with strong rebounding and perimeter volume.

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