The losses continue to pile up for the Brooklyn Nets., as the club dropped their 12 game over their last 14 on Thursday night.
With this, they now plummet to 10 games under .500 at 17-27 and remain a win behind the Atlanta Hawks for the 10-seed in the Eastern Conference standings.
However, though such a lowly stretch can and has negatively impacted the psyche of fans, pundits, and even some players, this latest showing, even with the loss, is still something that could be viewed as a step in the right direction.
At least, that's the type of sentiment that guard Cam Thomas voiced during his post-game press conference, as he was inspired by the way the Nets fought to the bitter end of regulation against the top-billed Minnesota Timberwolves.
Nets guard Cam Thomas encouraged by team's fight vs Timberwolves
"I felt like we were just more poised. We weren't in a rush [and we didn't] let them speed us up. We usually let the other team speed us up when they crank up the pressure. Today we handled it pretty well. We got the shots we wanted. Either we didn't make them or we made them or we got fouled and we just didn't make free throws. Felt like we executed really well. We got better from the past few games where we've been blowing leads so I feel like it's a good step in the right direction."Cam Thomas
As Thomas alluded to, producing in fourth quarters has been a major struggle for the Nets throughout the past month, as they've been outscored 339-417 during the final period since December 27.
They even recently let up a 22-0 run during a bout against the LA Clippers in the fourth that, ultimately, lost them a game that, at one point, had them up by double-figures.
Brooklyn seemingly snapped this lackluster streak against the surging Minnesota Timberwolves, as they outpaced them 20-15 over the last 12 minutes of action, witnessing an 8-0 run during the latter part of the period and, at the two-second mark, even had a chance to tie things up with a clean look by Mikal Bridges.
Unfortunately, these efforts proved not enough for the team as they fell by a final score of 96-94.
Though such a loss may be quite crushing for some, to Thomas -- finished with 25 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals -- it was an encouraging sign that this team has the ability to compete till the end, even when going up against the best that the league has to offer.