The Brooklyn Nets lost a gut wrenching game on Sunday night to the Los Angeles Clippers. The Nets led by eight late in the game, but fell apart against a desperate Clippers team.
The Clippers jumped out to an early 10-0 lead against the Brooklyn Nets in the first quarter. The Nets were able to fight back, and keep the game close for most of the first half after that. The game was within 2 at one point, but Los Angeles went on a run to end the half, and led by 12 at the break.
The Nets played porous defense in the first half, and put up 18 three pointers while making only five. They also turned the ball over eight times. The bench, led by Caris Levert and Joe Harris had a productive frame.
The Nets were able to cut the deficit to just five going into the fourth, and completely took off. They Nets hit three pointer after three pointer, with Harris and Levert continuing to lead the way. Brooklyn shot over 50 percent from three in the second half, connecting on 14 attempts.
Levert had 27 points, five rebounds, and five assists, with a season high five threes. DeMarre Carroll drained six three pointers himself, and finished with 20 points and seven rebounds. Harris had 19, but missed the game tying shot at the buzzer.
The Nets led 118-110 with under three minutes left in the game, and then the Clippers stormed back.
Brooklyn managed the end of the game extremely poorly. They continued to rely on the three pointer instead of driving even when they were up. Spencer Dinwiddie was a major culprit in this regard, and had a very tough game, hitting zero shots from the field.
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D’Angelo Russell was also a non factor down the stretch, as he wasn’t on the floor. He finished with only six points. The game management has to fall on Kenny Atkinson, because this was as winnable a game as the Nets have had all season.
Both Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Dante Cunningham were in double figures in the game as well. RHJ had 15 points, eight rebounds, and five assists.
The Nets didn’t defend LA particularly well, allowing the Clippers to shoot over 52 percent overall. But with Brooklyn having 30 assists on the night, you would expect them to be able to shoot better overall.
Austin Rivers and Tobias Harris both had over 25 points tonight, with Rivers hitting a late three to give the Clippers the lead for good.
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DeAndre Jordan had a double-double, and hit nine of his ten free throws on the night. Jordan was a difference maker at the stripe.
To take a positive out of this tough loss, the Brooklyn Nets showed once again that they can play with any team in the league. Whether down by two or twenty, they are able to fight back and make games close.
There’s no doubt the Clippers needed this game, almost as a must win. But all that matters in this league is winning and the Nets have a very hard time closing games out. This will improve with more time and experience for many of Kenny Atkinson’s young players, but they badly need a few of these wins to close out the year. If for nothing else, to believe that they actually can beat teams in the thick of a playoff race.
The Nets are off Monday, before closing out the West Coast part of their road trip against at the Warriors.