DALLAS — Kevin Durant hadn’t missed a free throw since Steve Nash was Nets coach, since earlier than Kyrie Irving’s newest drama. He had made 61 straight when he went to the road with an opportunity to sink three, with a chance to pressure time beyond regulation.
And after making the primary, he missed the second. His shoulders sagged, his head slumped. And his Nets misplaced 96-94 to the Mavericks earlier than a sellout crowd of 20,011 at American Airways Heart.
After Durant (26 factors, 4 assists, 4 rebounds) missed the third on objective, the Nets did get the offensive rebound. However Royce O’Neale drove into heavy contact and turned the ball over to Dallas star Luka Doncic (game-high 36 factors, six assists, six boards and two steals).
“I gotta make that. I gotta make that. That’s the sport. We’d in all probability nonetheless be taking part in proper now. F–ok, man. I felt like I went by means of my entire routine. Rattling, I ought to have shot it slightly stronger,” mentioned Durant, who hadn’t missed since Oct. 26 at Milwaukee. “It sucks. Not rather more I can say about it.”
In reality, it wasn’t Durant who value the Nets (4-7), however an offensive dry spell in opposition to Dallas’ zone protection within the fourth quarter.
The Nets led by 4 however coughed up a 14-0 run and by no means led once more.
“They went zone on us slightly bit, made us type of recalibrate slightly bit. And we did. We settled down, we received some beauty. We executed on the finish of the sport. Put ourselves once more ready to win,” mentioned interim coach Jacque Vaughn, who changed Steve Nash within the days since Durant’s final missed free throw.
“Give them credit score for going zone; that type of slowed us down slightly bit. Then we figured it out and we received beauty. The appears to be like that we did get from the fellows who shot the basketball. We’ll take it.”
They took them, however missed them.
The Nets led 78-74 after Durant’s 16-foot step again jumper with 8:19 left. However they dedicated 4 turnovers and missed their solely shot throughout that dry spell.
That Mavs’ run was punctuated by Durant getting wound up and getting a technical. He was jawing with ex-Internet Theo Pinson, and ended up pushing Josh Inexperienced and getting whistled, solely to maintain going at it with Pinson.
By the point Inexperienced sank his foul shot, the Nets have been in an 88-78 gap.
“I wasn’t pissed off. I used to be having an incredible time, a good time. I like speaking s–t to followers, different groups, coaches,” Durant mentioned. “And so they sense that it’s a wholesome factor. It’s not like I’m upset eager to battle Theo, or pissed off at him for speaking to me. I used to be having an incredible time and no higher place for me to be at this level in my life the place I used to be.”
Pinson had instructed Durant he was going to should be Magic Johnson to shake freed from their junk defenses, and the Nets star couldn’t pull off any methods Monday.
“Yeah, they don’t need no one on this league wish to see one. Let me go one-on-one or wish to see me on my spot. In order that they’re gonna throw three or 4 individuals at me, play zone up once I get the ball,” Durant mentioned. “And I used to be simply telling them, ‘That is how nice I'm.’ It’s only a easy truth whenever you put that a lot consideration on one participant, I’m taking part in a group sport, it exhibits how nice I'm. So he understood.”
They by no means received nearer than 4 till Cam Thomas (19 factors) hit a fadeaway 3-pointer with a half-minute left in regulation.
With the Nets down 96-93, Durant drew a foul on Reggie Bullock making an attempt a 3 with 5.6 seconds to play. He made the primary, however missed the second. And when Doncic stopped O’Neale’s drive, it was over.
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