The Nets don’t do ethical victories.
But when Sunday (all instances AEDT) was a measuring stick — the second evening of a back-to-back, minus three starters towards the league’s greatest group — there have been positives to be taken.
Simply not fairly sufficient of them.
Watch a mean of 9 NBA Common Season video games per week LIVE on ESPN, out there by way of Kayo. Be a part of Kayo now and begin streaming immediately >
The Nets ran out of gasoline late in a 124-114 loss to Boston earlier than a sellout crowd of 17,983 at Barclays Centre, as traditional with a wholesome dose of Celtic inexperienced readily available.
Minus starters Ben Simmons, Nic Claxton and Cam Johnson, the Nets have been down simply 96-95 with 7:28 to play.
However that’s when Boston — the NBA’s championship favorite and solely unbeaten group left this season — reeled off an 11-2 run to lastly put Brooklyn away.
The absence of Simmons — whom the group insists was merely taking a prearranged evening off to handle his well-documented again harm — was felt acutely.
Bucks outlast Knicks in tight end | 00:44
With him went their prodigious quick break, and far of their offensive identification.
“I’m enthusiastic about seeing if we will proceed conceptual basketball, how we need to play with out [Simmons] being there,” coach Jacque Vaughn had stated. “The opposite evening we shot 45 3s, and an enormous a part of that was Ben’s capacity to, after makes and misses, push [the] tempo for us. So might our different guards try this as nicely might be a problem for us.
“I’d like to shoot 45 extra 3s if we might versus [the Celtics]. However I believe you’ll positively miss Ben’s capacity to seize rebounds, begin our break, guard a number of positions however hopefully conceptually, the best way we play, another person can slide into that slot.”
It didn’t occur.
Cam Thomas poured in a team-high 27 factors, however the Nets hit simply 43 per cent from the ground and 17 of 52 from deep, getting slowed down within the halfcourt by Boston.
Mikal Bridges had 19 however struggled by a 7-for-20 capturing evening.
The Nets had run off a minimum of 20 fast-break factors in each single sport this season, their longest such streak because the stat began being tracked again in 1996-97.
They got here into the evening averaging a league-high 23.4 fast-break factors, however mustered simply seven within the loss.
The Nets trailed early, down 24-15 after Jrue Vacation discovered Jaylen Brown (23 factors) for a mid-range jumper.
However they closed the primary quarter on a 19-10 run to even the rating going into the second.
‘That is a goaltend!’ Controversial finish | 00:43
The Nets clawed forward, with ahead Dorian Finney-Smith — beginning a fifth straight sport at centre for injured starter Nic Claxton — hitting a 3-pointer off a Spencer Dinwiddie feed.
It gave the Nets a 41-36 edge with 9:43 left within the half. Nevertheless it was short-lived.
A 9-0 Celtics blitz over the following two minutes left the Nets in a five-point gap, capped by a floater by Jayson Tatum (game-high 32 factors).
The Nets have been nonetheless down simply 62-58 after a put again dunk by Day’Ron Sharpe with 1:10 left within the second quarter.
However they allowed the Celtics to attain the final eight factors of the half, capped by a Tatum 27-footer with simply 0.3 seconds left.
The Nets trailed 70-58 on the break, and by no means led once more.
They nearly instantly made a run and climbed again into the sport, however might by no means fairly recover from the hump.
Thomas’ hook shot made it 87-86 with 2:25 remaining within the third, however the Nets by no means might pull forward.
Down 96-90, they pulled inside one once more on a 3-pointer by Dennis Smith Jr.
However Tatum responded with one among his personal, sparking an 11-2 run.
Boston opened the result in double digits and the sport was over.
Simmons’ absence was pronounced, however the Nets nearly instantly went to reassurance mode, comforting their followers that there was nothing amiss.
“The Ben piece is simply harm upkeep for us,” Vaughn stated. “General, simply assessing the place we’re this time of the season, with the back-to-back — not saying this can proceed — however the upkeep is part of his development proper now for this a part of the season.”
-This story was initially printed by Brian Lewis within the NY Put up and reproduced with permission
CHAMPS CRUISE AS LAKERS SMASHED
Defending champion Denver seized the Western Convention lead, enhancing to 6-1 by defeating Chicago 123-101.
Nikola Jokic had 28 factors, 16 rebounds and 9 assists to steer the host Nuggets whereas Michael Porter added 27 factors and Aaron Gordon had 15 factors and 12 rebounds for Denver.
German ahead Franz Wagner scored 26 factors and Paolo Banchero added 25 factors and a career-high 10 assists to spark host Orlando over the Los Angeles Lakers 120-101.
“I’m feeling good,” Banchero stated. “I’ve put in a whole lot of work. It was a protracted summer time. I can’t be extra comfortable than I’m to be again.
“You possibly can rating the ball, make the performs however making others higher is what I like to do,” he stated of his 10 assists. “I went on the market and tried to maintain the defence trustworthy.”
Anthony Davis had 28 factors, 13 rebounds and 7 blocked photographs and LeBron James added 24 factors, 9 rebounds, 5 assists and three steals for the Lakers, who started a four-game street journey.
SIXERS ROLL PAST SUNS
Maintaining tempo one sport behind the Celtics have been the Philadelphia 76ers as Joel Embiid scored 26 factors and grabbed 11 rebounds to steer the Sixers over visiting Phoenix 112-100.
Kelly Oubre added 25 factors, Tobias Harris had 18 factors and 10 rebounds and Tyrese Maxey contributed 22 factors, and 10 assists on his twenty third birthday to spark the 76ers (4-1).
“I used to be making an attempt to be aggressive, whether or not I used to be making the proper learn, getting the help or scoring the ball,” Maxey stated.
“I’m making an attempt to select my spots when to be extremely aggressive and when to get to the paint to get Joel a shot, get Kelly a shot, get them in the proper spots. I believe I’m doing a strong job of it proper now.”
Wemby drops profession excessive 38 towards Suns | 00:58
Maxey has proven a spark in changing veteran James Harden, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers.
“Coach, Joel, Tobias, they belief me on the market to see what I learn on the market on the court docket. Belief has been nice and I respect them for that,” Maxey stated.
“I do know what my position is so it has been nice.” Kevin Durant scored a game-high 31 factors for the Suns with eight rebounds in a shedding trigger.
WOLVES, ROCKETS WIN
Anthony Edwards scored 31 factors and Karl-Anthony Cities had 25 to spark the host Minnesota Timberwolves over Utah 123-95.
Dillion Brooks scored 26 factors whereas Fred VanVleet and Jabari Smith every added 21 for Houston in a 107-89 overcome Sacramento.
Charlotte’s Mark Williams scored 27 factors and Gordon Hayward added 23 to energy the Hornets over host Indiana 125-124. Tyrese Haliburton scored 43 factors, matching a profession excessive, and added 12 assists for the Pacers.
Trae Younger had 22 factors and 12 assists whereas Jalen Johnson added 21 factors and 11 rebounds to steer Atlanta over New Orleans 123-105 regardless of Zion Williamson’s game-high 25 factors for the Pelicans.
ALL RESULTS
SUNS 100 76ERS 112
HAWKS 123 PELICANS 105
LAKERS 101 MAGIC 120
HORNETS 125 PACERS 124
JAZZ 95 TIMBERWOLVES 123
KINGS 89 ROCKETS 107
CELTICS 124 NETS 114
BULLS 101 NUGGETS 123