LOS ANGELES — No less than this time, the Nets confirmed some coronary heart.
However that they had it damaged, falling 102-101 to the Lakers, aided by some endgame heroics from LeBron James and Austin Reaves earlier than a crowd of 18,473 at Crypto.com Enviornment.
Brooklyn had clawed and defended its manner into an 88-all tie roughly halfway by means of the fourth after Ben Simmons discovered Noah Clowney for a 3-pointer with 6:32 to play.
However they watched as the sport was snatched from them.
They gave up an 9-2 run that primarily ended it. James hit Reaves for a jumper that capped the blitz and made it 97-90. The clock learn 4:32 left, however the recreation primarily was over.
The Nets received inside 102-101 on a Clowney 3 and had one final probability.
However D’Angelo Russell — who was returning to face the staff that traded him to Brooklyn on Dec. 29 — missed a fadeaway 3-pointer simply extensive.
The Nets (14-28) have dropped seven of eight, and 10 of their previous 12.
None had been extra embarrassing than Wednesday’s 126-67 loss on the Clippers.
The Nets trailed by 64 at one level, and the ultimate margin was the worst in franchise historical past and among the many backside 10 all time within the NBA. They put that of their rearview and responded towards the Lakers. They only weren’t ok.
“Obviously that’s not where we are or who we want to display. So just come out trying to respond and get a win,” Russell stated of Wednesday’s loss. “Just play hard. I think our group, that’s not something we’ve got to be coached into doing is playing hard. We’ve got a bunch of hard-working guys. So just go out there no matter who we play or who’s playing on their team, just attack them like it’s just another guy or team we’re playing.”
The Nets traded Dorian Finney-Smith and Shake Milton to the Lakers on Dec. 29 for Rusell and three second-round picks.
Whereas Finney-Smith didn’t get to face his former staff — out for the beginning of his son — Russell received his probability.
And he made essentially the most of it with 19 factors, eight assists and 6 boards off the bench.
“It’s exciting. It’s exciting. I’m excited to be on this side, you know, attacking those guys,” Russell stated earlier than the loss in regards to the prospect of dealing with the Lakers. “[My Lakers stint] was just a blur. I think coming in, I was locked into what I had to achieve personally to be there. To not be there now obviously is something that you try to get over and you just try to move past. But that is a place that I’ve been there twice. There’s a home for me there. For myself, I feel like that’s a part of my career that, you know, something can really take back. So I appreciate it. And I’m just looking forward to moving on.”
James had 29 factors, eight assists and 7 rebounds, whereas Reaves had a career-high 38.
“We’ve been a team that always responded, right? It’s an NBA season, 82 games, there are some up and downs. And obviously not to find excuses, but you have a bad game and all you can do is come together, work and then come back and be better,” head coach Jordi Fernandez stated earlier than the loss. “We had a tough one, and likewise flushing it and supporting the fellows, it’s essential. And I like the group we’ve got, the vitality they’ve within the everyday, some issues that you just guys can’t see.
“But I think it reflects on the court how we’ve competed and fought and got better. … And I know how I feel, especially when you’re younger. So, I know the guys are ready, and like I said before, all these experiences we’ve had so far, the group has always responded in a positive way.”
It was constructive. It simply wasn’t sufficient.
