SACRAMENTO, Calif. — The Nets used phrases like annoyed and disenchanted after their newest loss. They need to have added embarrassed after this one.
Brooklyn collapsed within the fourth quarter towards the woebegone Kings, blowing a lead and getting surprised 112-101 earlier than 13,153 at Golden 1 Middle.
The Nets ran their dropping streak to 6 straight, the longest skid presently within the NBA and their worst since dropping seven in a row from Dec. 26, 2019-Jan. 7, 2020. However contemplating this group’s expectations, this was way more humbling — and worrying.
“It’s the whole lot. A bit little bit of the whole lot,” James Harden stated. “[We have to] preserve chipping away, a day at a time. That’s all you are able to do, come collectively nearer, even tighter. It’s undoubtedly irritating. Its undoubtedly troublesome. However we’ve acquired to discover a solution to get out of it as a gaggle.”
This ugly loss got here after the Nets (29-22) had proven indicators of life in robust losses at Golden State and Phoenix, the 2 greatest groups within the league. However Wednesday night time, they confirmed treasured little battle, taking an 86-83 lead into the fourth however conceding 9 unanswered factors to open the ultimate interval.
The Nets shot simply 7-of-21 within the fourth — and 1-of-9 from deep — to get outscored 29-15. And this from a Kings group that had dropped seven straight.
“Our stage of play simply dropped considerably within the second half on each side of the ball,” Steve Nash stated. “We let guys beat us off the dribble at a a lot greater fee than we did within the first half. We simply didn’t make pictures, didn’t make performs and appeared drained offensively.”
No one appeared extra drained than Harden. He had 12 assists, however simply 4 factors on 2-of-11 taking pictures. He dedicated six turnovers and completed a wretched minus-21.
“I assumed James appeared drained,” Nash stated. “He didn’t have his legs. It was a kind of nights.”
It was Harden’s lowest-scoring recreation since 2014 wherein he logged a minimum of half-hour. Tuesday in Phoenix had marked his return from a proper hand harm, however on the tail finish of this back-to-back, it was his legs that gave out.
“It’s simply the fact that whenever you come out, some guys aren’t going to have the identical legs that they had the night time earlier than,” Kyrie Irving stated. “That’s an element into each ball recreation whenever you’re taking part in a back-to-back. You simply noticed we ran out of fuel.”
Enjoying with out Kevin Durant, Joe Harris and now LaMarcus Aldridge, the Nets acquired a career-high 23 factors and 11 boards from Nic Claxton, however it wasn’t sufficient. The Nets have fallen from atop the East on Jan. 22 to 3½ video games behind the Bulls. They’re simply 1½ away from the Hornets for the play-in.
Requested why they’ve been so wildly inconsistent, Harden stated: “You recognize simply pretty much as good as I do. We’ve simply acquired numerous various things internally, lineups, and we haven’t had [any] continuity but. So it’s simply a kind of issues the place you’ve acquired to simply preserve going. Nothing else to do however preserve going. Maintain pushing ahead.”
After the Nets trailed 23-21 on Davion Mitchell’s finger roll, they reeled off a 14-0 run that spanned into the second.
Irving’s back-to-back 3-pointers and Patty Mills’ 3 capped the run for a 35-23 cushion. However they couldn’t construct on it — or in the long run, even maintain onto it.
James Johnson (18 factors) hit a pullup to finish the third to present the Nets a three-point edge going into the ultimate interval. But it surely didn’t final.
Brooklyn coughed up a 9-0 run, Harden’s sixth turnover resulting in a Buddy Hield 3. His ensuing technical handed Hield (18 factors off the bench) a free throw that made it 92-86.
The clock learn 10:21 to play, however it was over.
Subsequent up is Utah and Denver to finish a grueling journey. However the Nets don't have any intention of calling a gamers solely assembly.
“No, I believe we’ve carried out an excessive amount of speaking,” Harden stated. “We’ve acquired to go on the market and do it, and do it constantly. We've got instances the place we’re nice; then we now have instances the place we’re actually unhealthy. And also you’ve simply acquired to search out some consistency.”
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