Luka Doncic is operating up courtroom together with his tongue out, each of his arms by his aspect and his arms pointed again.
It’s develop into considerably of a trademark gesture for Las Vegas’ favourite for NBA Most Valuable Player of the Year honors after he makes an enormous play.
Only this time, this large play delivered the Nets their fourth loss of their opening 5 video games. It was a behind the again go to a wide-open Reggie Bullock on the prime of the important thing for a 3 that gave the Cavs a nine-point extra time lead the Nets would by no means overcome of their eventual 129-125 loss at Barclays Center.
Doncic totally had his method with each defender the Nets threw at him. He completed with a 40-point triple double and outlasted heroic efforts from Durant and Irving.
In entrance of a jam-packed, sellout Barclays Center crowd, he had the final chuckle.
And the Nets don’t have anything to chuckle about.
They have misplaced three video games in a row and tout a 1-4 document that makes them, on paper, solely higher than groups which have but to document a victory, though their roster options two doubtless Hall of Famers, plus an energetic one in Steve Nash because the crew’s head coach. The Nets imagine they’re a greater crew than their document would point out — that they may peak on the finish of the yr after a season’s price of constructing chemistry and tinkering with rotations.
But as of proper now, the names on paper should not profitable video games.
Durant completed with 37 factors on 12-of-20 taking pictures from the sector however went chilly after making 9 of his first 12 pictures. Irving additionally completed with 37 factors, however he shot 14-of-31 from the sector and 5-of-14 from past the arc. And Simmons completed with one other single-digit scoring efficiency, although he made life troublesome for Doncic on the opposite finish of the ground.
Simmons had seven factors, eight rebounds, 4 assists and three steals. He stole the ball from Doncic within the last seconds of regulation earlier than feeding Durant for a game-tying transition dunk.
But by the point Durant and Irving bought it getting into extra time, Doncic had already determined the sport was his to win.
Five different Nets gamers scored in double figures, together with former Net Spencer Dinwiddie, who began and scored 11 factors.
And for the Nets, solely second-year guard David Duke Jr. and beginning wing Royce O’Neale registered double-figure scoring. Joe Harris sat out the second sport of a back-to-back together with his ankle upkeep, and Seth Curry didn’t play as he battles again from offseason ankle surgical procedure as properly.
The Nets have a possibility to proper the ship towards an Indiana Pacers crew anticipated to be tanking on the finish of the season. Expectations, at this level within the season, may not matter with each groups boasting a 1-4 document.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com