Nets Torched Against Red-Hot Heat

For the third and final time this season, the Brooklyn Nets took on the Miami Heat. Brooklyn looked to snap their losing streak, while Miami tried to stay hot and continue their winning streak.

The Brooklyn Nets caught a bit of a break on Friday, as the Heat held Dion Waiters out due to an ankle injury. The Heat, even without Waiters, got off to a hot start, leading the Nets 11-5 in the opening minutes. But Brook Lopez came to play as usual, scoring 11 of Brooklyn’s first 13 points, and leading the Nets on an 8-0 run to take a 13-11 lead.

Lopez’s 13 carried the Nets in the first quarter, as the next closest scorer for Brooklyn was Justin Hamilton, with three points. But Lopez was able to propel the Nets to a 22-20 lead after one quarter.

The Nets opened the second quarter on a 9-4 run to take a 31-24 lead. Brooklyn slowly built on its lead, taking a 43-35 lead with just over five minutes remaining in the half. However, Miami went on an 8-3 run to cut Brooklyn’s lead to just three, 46-43.

Bojan Bogdanovic pushed Brooklyn’s 50-49 lead to four points with a corner three with 33 seconds left in the half. The Nets had a chance to add on in the final seconds, but Sean Kilpatrick could not get a shot off to beat the buzzer. Brooklyn led 53-49 at halftime, as Lopez led all scorers with 19 points. Goran Dragic led the Heat with 13 points.

Brooklyn turned the ball over nine times in the first half, which led to 12 points for the Heat, but the Nets still managed to hold a halftime lead over a team on a 12 game win streak.

More from Nothin' But Nets

Randy Foye and Wayne Ellington traded three pointers at the onset of the third quarter, as Brooklyn tried to hold Miami off. The Nets went on a 12-7 run, highlighted by a massive dunk by Lopez and a three pointer by Bogdanovic, to take a 65-56 lead.

However, a 7-0 run by the Heat cut Brooklyn’s lead to just four. James Johnson played a key role in Miami’s comeback off the bench. Johnson and the Heat came all the way back to get within one, 71-70, with under two minutes remaining in the third quarter. The Heat tied the game at 72 when Tyler Johnson converted on a put-back layup, as part of a 16-5 Miami run. Johnson then gave Miami a two-point lead after sinking two free throws.

Brooklyn, after multiple missed layups in the finals seconds of the quarter, trailed 74-72 heading to the fourth quarter.

MUST READ: Facilitator Would Help Nets in Second Half of Season

The Nets and Heat traded buckets to begin the fourth quarter, as Caris LeVert hit a three to keep pace with Miami. Brooklyn trailed 83-81 with eight minutes remaining, as the Nets tried to snap Miami’s winning streak and simultaneously end the 11-game losing streak.

But turnovers, as has happened many times this season, began to cost the Nets late in the game. Miami pushed its lead to 91-84 with 5:30 remaining as the game slowly slipped away from the Nets.

Brooklyn trailed by five, 98-93, with 2:30 remaining. The Nets needed stops, but could not get them. Trailing 102-97, the Nets failed to secure a defensive rebound off a Tyler Johnson miss. Miami, after getting a second possession, used the entire shot clock and added on to their lead, taking a 104-97 lead with 43.8 seconds left.

Next: Top 5 Moments in Nets History

Miami was able to hold off the Nets by a score of 108-99, for its 13th straight victory. The loss is Brooklyn’s 12th straight loss. Lopez led all scorers with 30 points, while James Johnson led the Heat with 26 points off the bench. This loss tied a Nets’ franchise record, with their 14th consecutive loss at home.