The Brooklyn Nets looked to have the answers to end their losing streak Friday.
Brook Lopez posted his third double-double in four games, Joe Johnson broke through for 22 points and the Nets held an 11-point lead early on, but it wasn’t enough, as they fell to the LA Lakers 104–98 at Barclays Center.
“We played with an intensity level that I haven’t seen for as long as we had tonight in all the games,” head coach Lionel Hollins said. “We played with a high level of intensity, but we just didn’t get the win. My mindset is to get on a plane tonight, go to Milwaukee and try to get a win [Saturday] night.”
The Nets shot 48 percent in the first quarter, opening up a 27-18 lead on the Lakers, but it was no cakewalk from then on out. LA rebounded in the second quarter, scoring 34 points to take a 52-47 lead into the half.
“We came out so strong and just stalled,” Lopez said. “It’s tough.”
The teams kept pace with each other throughout the third and fourth quarters, but the Nets closed the gap to three points with 1:34 to play. With the Lakers up five and 30 seconds to play, Jarrett Jack – who had a game-high 12 assists to go with his 18 points – drained a 23′ foot jumper, but after review, the clutch bucket still left the Nets three shy, instead of two.
Still, Brooklyn remained in the game, forcing a Lakers turnover with 24.2 seconds to play. But instead of a dramatic last try for a three, the Nets were called for a five-second inbound violation. The Lakers then went 6-for-6 on free throws to pull away.
“It’s unforced errors that we’re making,” Jack said. “It’s what we’re doing and what we’re not doing that’s keeping us in these positions or missing opportunities to be able to close out ballgames, or extend leads, or whatever is necessary for us to get it done.”
The Nets outrebounded the Lakers 46-40, including 14-5 on the offensive glass. Rondae Hollis-Jefferson – who made his first-career NBA start – had a game-and career-high 11 grabs to go along with five points and three assists. The Nets also posted a season-high 16 second-chance points.
The Lakers found a sizable chunk of their offense from the free-throw line, going 31-for-40. Kobe Bryant led the Lakers with 18 points, while Jordan Clarkson and D’Angelo Russell each had 16.
“It’s tough,” Johnson said. “Knowing the record for both teams and us being at home. It felt like we had a great chance to win, but we came up short.”
The Nets tip off with the Bucks Saturday night at 8:30 p.m. eastern. Tune in on YES.
