Sigh. The losses maintain piling on.
The Brooklyn Nets misplaced to the New York Knicks in embarrassing style on Wednesday, 142-118. Though Brooklyn was on the again finish of a back-to-back, the Nets seemed lifeless within the water from the beginning and allowed 81 factors within the first half. This was Brooklyn’s second-straight loss to the Knicks, each of which have occurred for the reason that crew traded away Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Prior to the 2 losses, the Nets didn’t lose to their crosstown rivals for 9 consecutive video games from 2019 all the way in which to 2022. It’s protected to say that streak is over.
As a crew, the Nets have but to win for the reason that All-Star break, are at the moment on a four-game skid, and have misplaced six of their final seven video games since formally beginning the brand new period with out Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving. Over the final 25 video games, Brooklyn is 7-18.
“We’re competitors so there is an element of suck to it, where it’s just like, man, we don’t want to go out and lose ever. Like, everybody feels it, everybody feels it deep,” mentioned Cam Johnson. “We’re sitting on the bench, you can feel that it’s an unsettled feeling because we want to be better, because we know we can do, better because we know we have the talent in our room to be better. But I think that’s just gonna motivate us to attack these days.”
Johnson led the way in which for the Nets with a season-high 33 factors on a nifty 13-of-18 taking pictures line and 7-of-11 from three. This was the second-highest-scoring efficiency of Johnson’s profession.
His “twin,” Mikal Bridges, additionally had a stable outing with 21 factors on 6-of-13 taking pictures. Bridges has eclipsed 20 factors in every of his final three performances.
Jalen Brunson led the way in which for the Knicks with 39 factors on a sterling taking pictures line, 15-of-18, with 5 made threes. Eight of New York’s 9 rotation gamers shot higher than 45% from the sector, going a ridiculous 54-of-89 (60.7%) as a crew.
The sport itself was the right marriage between an underwhelming protection and a red-hot taking pictures opponent. The Knicks couldn’t miss from deep, drilling 14 three-pointers within the first half, which tied New York’s all-time document in a half. In the tip, New York completed a ridiculous 57.1% from deep. New York’s 142 complete factors had been probably the most factors the Knicks have scored in a regulation sport in opposition to the Nets.
The Nets, in the meantime, allowed 30 factors in three of the 4 quarters within the sport, a illustration of simply how a lot their protection is floundering. Hat tip to Billy Reinhardt for this one: Brooklyn has allowed 30+ factors in 12 of their 16 complete quarters for the reason that All-Star break. Going a stage deeper, they’ve allowed 27+ factors in 15 of their 16 quarters. Brooklyn additionally acquired outrebounded by the Knicks, 46-31, and acquired killed by factors within the paint, 56-40. Given the entire rangy 3-and-D expertise, not less than on paper, it’s been shocking to see the Nets carry out so poorly on protection. Cam Johnson agreed.
“It is a surprise,” mentioned Johnson. “Philly barely got to 100 the first game and there has been some regression statistically. Some of these teams are just hitting shots, you know, and sometimes you gotta give credit to them. But like I said earlier, that’s when you got to step in and be like, what kind of shots are they hitting? And how can we make them take different shots? How can we make them do things that are a little more uncomfortable for them? But yeah, and it’s not something that sits well with our group because we know we should be at the very minimum, a very good, top-half of the NBA defensive team.”
Both groups couldn’t miss from three to begin. Julius Randle started issues with a contested three-pointer wedged deep into the precise nook, and RJ Barrett pitched one in as properly when Brooklyn helped weakside on a Randle drive. Cam Johnson acquired issues began with two threes, one in every of which got here from when Brunson helped on the nail on a drive. Randle had himself a monstrous begin to the sport with 4 assists, 3 of which had been attractive skip passes to the other facet of the court docket. Behind Randle’s passing, the Knicks started the sport a blistering 9-of-11 from deep to construct a 26-14 lead. When Isaiah Hartenstein checked in in opposition to the Nets’ backup lineup, which featured Dorian Finney-Smith at heart, New York grew its lead additional because of his 3 fast rebounds and 4 factors. The Knicks completed the primary quarter forward, 47-29.
The Knicks stored their foot on the fuel, starting the second quarter on an 8-4 run. The ridiculous taking pictures continued, as New York nuked 14 made threes on 19 makes an attempt to tie the document. Brunson, particularly, couldn’t be stopped with 30 factors on a near-perfect 12-of-14 taking pictures line. New York ended up ending with probably the most factors in a half since 2008 in opposition to Brooklyn’s putrid protection, up 81-57 at halftime.
In the third quarter—oh, let’s be sincere. There was no getting back from permitting 81 factors in two quarters. While Mikal Bridges reached 20 factors for the fifth time in seven video games, Nets followers had been sharing draft prospect highlights on Twitter. It was that kind of evening from Brooklyn, a type of simulate-until-the-end-of-the-season kind of outings. Brooklyn stumbled and fumbled their method into their fourth-straight loss. Hey, not less than the New York Liberty’s season begins quickly!
The Film Room
HA! As if.
I’m certain you’ll be simply effective if we skip the movie evaluation on this one.
Milestone watch
Tonight’s milestone watch goes to be principally Knicks-centric as a result of, properly, there wasn’t a ton to write down residence about on Brooklyn’s facet of issues.
- Cam Johnson scored a season-high 33 factors on a season-high-tying 7 made three-pointers. This was the second-best scoring efficiency of his profession.
- Mikal Bridges scored 20 factors for his third-straight sport. This was the fifth time in seven video games that Bridges has scored not less than 20 factors.
- The Knicks tied a franchise document with 14 made threes in a half.
- New York’s 81 factors within the first half had been the 1) probably the most factors ever given up in a primary half by the Nets, New Jersey or Brooklyn; 2) the third-most factors the Knicks have ever scored in a half within the franchise’s 77-year historical past and three) probably the most factors the Knicks have scored in a half since 2008.
- 142 factors is probably the most factors the Knicks have ever scored in opposition to the Nets in a sport. The earlier excessive was 137 factors, set in 1987.
Ben Simmons dominated out Friday
Post-game, Jacque Vaughn disclosed that left knee soreness will as soon as once more maintain Ben Simmons out of a sport. He shall be DNP Friday vs. Boston.
What’s subsequent
Brooklyn heads off to Boston to play the second-seeded Celtics on Friday with hopes of breaking the dismal dropping streak. Coverage begins at 7:30 PM EST on ESPN.
For a unique perspective of tonight’s sport, head to Posting and Toasting, our Knicks sister web site.
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