Brooklyn Nets rookie Ben Saraf continued his breakout on Wednesday. The 6-foot-6 point guard scored 14 points on 5-of-9 shooting from the field with seven assists and four turnovers during a 109-106 loss to the Golden State Warriors. He delivered one of the Nets' top highlights of the season during the final minutes of a tight contest.
With the Nets trailing 106–104 with 50 seconds remaining, Saraf drove and threw a poster dunk over Draymond Green to tie the game. The game started when he drove and made a go-ahead bucket and the game was tied with two minutes left.
Ben Sarraf drives and dunks over Draymond Green to tie the game. Glass. pic.twitter.com/uCj5oKrWij
- Eric Slater (@erikslater_) 26 March 2026
Ben Saraf drives, pump fakes Kristaps Porzingis in the paint, sends him flying, and scores a clutch layup to beat the shot clock with an amazing move
What a trick!
ice in his veins#netsworldBen Sharaf enters ringside, fraudulently sends Kritpas Porzingis to pluck oranges... pic.twitter.com/Bkx1jT8DqX
- MrBuckBuck (@MrBuckBuckNBA) 26 March 2026
Trailing by one in the final seconds, Jordi Fernandez called the rookie's number again. Saraf drove to left field but failed to advance on D'Anthony Melton as Brooklyn lost its ninth consecutive game.
"I wanted the ball in [Ben's] Hand. I wanted him to touch the paint. I mean, seven assists tonight, 5 for 9 from the field. He was aggressive, and he had incredible dunks the game before. That was the thought process,” Fernandes said of the final play.
After a slow start to his rookie campaign, Saraf is finding his rhythm as he steps into an expanded role to finish out the season.
Ben Saraf continues to cheer during Nets' tough loss to Warriors
The Israeli floor general has taken on increased ball-handling responsibilities amid injuries to Igor Demin and Michael Porter Jr. Over his last eight games, he is averaging 12.3 points on 46.2 percent shooting with 4.5 assists and 3.1 turnovers in 26.6 minutes per game.
Saraf's on-ball advantage creation, the main selling point of his skill set entering the draft, has been on full display. The 19-year-old has averaged 14.9 drives per game in his last eight appearances, the most on the team by a wide margin, and is shooting 51.1 percent. He's attempting 6.2 free throws per 100 possessions during the stretch and converting 85.7 percent.
"I feel like every time I'm in the right mindset of being aggressive at the rim and being in control, something good comes from it. So I just need to stick to that mindset," the rookie said.
Saraf's two made threes on Wednesday were a welcome sight for the net, as he was 13 of 67 (19.4 percent) entering the matchup. The No. 26 pick's defensive improvement has impressed Brooklyn's coaching staff. He had two steals on Wednesday as the Nets forced the Warriors into a season-high 26 turnovers.
Saraf played a key role in slowing down Jalen Brunson during Brooklyn's near upset of the New York Knicks on Friday. The rookie guarded Brunson for long periods of time, as the Nets held the Knicks star to 17 points on 7-of-19 shooting.
