For twenty-four minutes, the Nets held their very own towards the Warmth.
They pressured 22 turnovers. They collected extra second-chance factors.
The return of D’Angelo Russell from a one-game absence resulting from private causes offered the anticipated enhance towards a Warmth group enjoying with out suspended star Jimmy Butler.
“Usually,” Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez stated, “should be able to win that game.”
However sandwiched in between these promising indicators was a dominant third quarter by the Warmth, which allowed them to drag away and hand the Nets — regardless of late comeback makes an attempt — a 106-97 loss for his or her sixth consecutive defeat and eleventh throughout the previous 12 video games.
It spoiled an evening that featured Vince Carter’s jersey retirement, with the previous All-Star and present Corridor of Famer changing into the seventh participant in Nets historical past to have his quantity retired throughout a halftime ceremony, and it marked the newest setback for a Nets group navigating accidents and making an attempt to stay aggressive regardless of a largely depleted roster.
Russell and Keon Johnson led the Nets with 22 factors, whereas Noah Clowney and Nic Claxton added 13.
“It just comes down to us and transition and the two-[on]-ones and finishing, making the right play,” Fernandez stated, whereas later describing the loss as a “self-inflicted” one. “I want our guys to be confident. We’ll work at it. We’ll watch it. And we’ll be better.”
They even pulled inside 10 factors with underneath 4 minutes remaining within the fourth quarter after Jalen Wilson hit a 3.
However then Terry Rozier responded with one in every of his personal.
The Warmth held off any final makes an attempt at a comeback by the Nets after they trimmed their deficit to seven inside the ultimate minute.
The Nets didn’t lead after taking a 2-0 benefit on Claxton’s layup within the opening minutes of the sport, however they did pull inside 4 factors by halftime after Russell made two 3s and Clowney added one other one within the last two minutes of the second quarter.
However led by Tyler Herro, Nikola Jovic and Terry Rozier, tasked with filling the misplaced manufacturing of Butler, the Warmth collected 29 factors within the third quarter, outscored the Nets by 10 and averted any late collapse throughout the ultimate 12 minutes.
And on an evening devoted to a previous period within the franchise’s historical past, to a former cornerstone who elevated the Nets and sparked playoff pushes, Brooklyn issued a stark reminder of simply how far of a distant reminiscence the early 2000s have change into.
“I just think as a group we didn’t capitalize on getting the stops we needed,” Russell stated of the third quarter. “At the start of the third, we got a lot of good stops and came down and just didn’t capitalize.”
The Nets had been initially slated to get Ben Simmons again from a three-game absence due to an sickness, however he was dominated out moments earlier than tipoff resulting from decrease again soreness.
“Probably is a question for him on when [it happened],” Fernandez stated. “Like I’ve always said with Ben and everybody else, we’ll prioritize their bodies and their health, and that was the right thing to do.”
Ahead Jalen Wilson completed with a career-high six assists and season-high 9 rebounds, whereas including 12 factors and falling simply wanting the second double-double of his profession.
