Brooklyn Nets: Second Half Rally Not Enough to Close Out Rockets

118. 147. Final. 122. 169

The Brooklyn Nets ended their two-game stand in Texas with another loss, this time to the Houston Rockets. Brooklyn had an impressive showing in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Rockets.

The Brooklyn Nets’ matchup against the Houston Rockets was marked by the return of Jeremy Lin. Despite Lin logging a stellar +17 on the night in 20 minutes of action, Brooklyn fell short to the Rockets, 118-122.

The Nets and Rockets went back and forth for the first half of the first quarter, as both teams kept each other within distance in the first six minutes of the game. After the six-minute mark, the Rockets pulled to a 20-13 lead off a 7-0 run. Houston led by as much as 11 in the first period and held a five-point advantage, 29-24, at the end of the first.

The Rockets once again outscored the Nets in the second quarter, 24-19, pulling to a 53-43 lead to end the first half. Much of Houston’s offense was powered by James Harden, Eric Gordon, and Patrick Beverley. In the first half, Lin played for nine minutes and scored two points.

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Brooklyn showed some life in the second half, outscoring Houston 75-69 in the final two periods. This comeback was led by Brook Lopez, who finished the game with a team-high 26 points. At the end of three quarters, the Nets cut the Rockets’ lead to five, 85-90.

This stellar run continued into the final period, and Brooklyn took the lead, 114-113, with 2:19 remaining in the game. With eighteen seconds to go, Houston led 119-118, and Lin missed a three-pointer that would’ve put the Nets up by two. Brooklyn got the offensive rebound, but a layup attempted by Joe Harris was blocked by Trevor Ariza, and the Rockets retained possession.

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Even further down the stretch, turnovers were the theme. The Rockets were up 120-118 with six seconds to go when a bad pass by Sean Kilpatrick resulted in a Beverley steal, ultimately costing the Nets a chance to tie or take the lead. Brooklyn lost the ball yet again in the final four seconds, though by then, the game was over.

Lopez led the Nets with 26 points. Kilpatrick added 17 points, three rebounds, and two assists. In his first game since November 2, Lin scored 10 points, grabbed three boards, and dished out seven assists.

Harden led the Rockets with a game-high 36 points. Gordon and former Net Ryan Anderson added 24 and 19, respectively.

Next: Jeremy Lin Makes Return Against Rockets

The Nets return home to face the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday. Brooklyn drops to 6-17 (14th in the Eastern Conference), and Houston improves to 18-7 (3rd in the Western Conference).

Nets’ Second Half Rally Not Enough to Close Out Rockets

By Sandy Mui | Dec 12, 2016

The Brooklyn Nets ended their two-game stand in Texas with another loss, this time to the Houston Rockets. Brooklyn had an impressive showing in the second half, but it wasn’t enough to overcome the Rockets.

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