The larger high quality the opponent, the uglier the sport.
That a lot has rung true within the Nets’ final two outings, first Wednesday’s loss to the Chicago Bulls after which Brooklyn’s come-from-behind 108-102 victory over the New Orleans Pelicans on Wednesday.
The Pelicans have been with out All-Stars Brandon Ingram and Zion Williamson however mucked the sport up on the boards and on 50-50 balls. It’s been a recipe for fulfillment for a Pelicans crew that entered the night time 5-1 in video games with out these two stars. On a poor capturing night time from Kyrie Irving, the Nets made sufficient performs down the stretch to safe a victory — setting the desk to start out a brand new streak after their 12-game run got here to an finish in Chicago.
With 21 playoff opponents on the docket of their subsequent 23 video games, the final two video games have confirmed high quality of opponent is all that issues. As the Nets start to face playoff and championship-caliber opponents, their margin for error will change into that a lot slimmer.
It was a capturing night time in Antarctica for each Irving and Kevin Durant, who every struggled to knock down pictures towards a stingy Pelicans protection.
Durant began the night time one-of-seven from the sphere and shot simply 9-of-26 from the sphere for 33 factors in his least environment friendly capturing night time of the season. Durant completed one level shy of passing Dominique Wilkins for 14th place on the NBA’s all-time main scorers listing. He struggled to knock down pictures he historically makes towards a Pelicans protection that swarmed him off the dribble.
It didn’t assist that Irving couldn’t purchase a basket, both. The Eastern Conference’s main All-Star vote getter amongst guards shot simply 7-of-22 from the sphere for 19 factors.
After lacking 12 of his first 16 pictures, Irving hit a 3 that gave the Nets a three-point lead halfway by the fourth quarter. He then appeared to the skies, took a second to heart himself, and shouted two phrases.
“God damn!”
After capturing 0-of-9 from the sphere and 0-of-8 from downtown within the loss to the Bulls, Royce O’Neale redeemed himself with a four-of-seven capturing night time from downtown. O’Neale completed with 14 factors and hit a pivotal three late within the fourth quarter to present the Nets a 101-97 lead.
The Pelicans’ solely obtainable star CJ McCollum completed with 28 factors, Naji Marshall completed with 23 and New York native Jose Alvarado scored 17 off the bench.
The Nets held the Pelicans to only 38 factors within the second half. They hunkered down defensively when the offense sputtered.
With the issue of the schedule ratcheting up within the second leg of the season, the Nets might want to convey that second-half defensive effort to Miami for his or her last highway recreation.
()
Source: www.bostonherald.com
