Nets collapse late vs. Clippers, allow 22-0 run in loss
Los Angeles Clippers forward Kawhi Leonard vies for a loose ball against Nets guard Lonnie Walker IV during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Jan. 21, 2024, in Los Angeles. Credit: AP/Marcio Jose Sanchez
LOS ANGELES — The Nets’ last multi-city road trip was a disaster — a four-game mess in which they lacked effort and ended with disheartening losses in a back-to-back.
The current three-game trip appeared to be the opposite. After beating the Lakers on Friday, they led the Clippers by 15 points through three quarters Sunday. However, they imploded in stunning fashion at Crypto.com Arena, allowing a 22-0 run in the final 5:17 of a 125-114 loss.
The Nets took a 16-0 lead in the first 4:23 of the game and led for all but the final 2:50 of the contest, but they were outscored 41-15 in the final quarter. They missed their final nine shots and Kawhi Leonard scored 14 points during that final run.
The Nets led by 18 points just before the end of the third quarter, but after playing with pace and keeping the Clippers (27-14) off balance, they slowed down in the fourth as Los Angeles went small and threw them off balance.
“We tried to pick on matchups, and the NBA is not going to allow you to do that,” coach Jacque Vaughn said.
“They were able to load up and start blitzing us a little bit and sending two people at a few guys. When we were playing fast and making them react to us, we had the advantage.
“When we slowed the ball down in the fourth quarter and let them use their size, length and strength against us, this is what’s going to happen.”
If the trip started in disappointment with a last-second loss against the Trail Blazers, it ended in bewilderment. Whatever momentum the Nets (17-25) gained from their win over the Lakers was wasted.
A steal and layup by Mikal Bridges gave the Nets a 114-103 lead with 5:33 left, but that shot ended up as their last salvo. Sixteen seconds later, the Clippers began their comeback.
After Norman Powell made a three-pointer that brought the Clippers within 114-113, Leonard scored 10 of the final 12 points.
A lack of poise down the stretch did in the Nets. Nic Claxton missed an ill-advised three-point shot, just his second attempt of the season. Cam Thomas was called for traveling, and on the next play, Leonard gave the Clippers their first lead at 115-114.
“They went small,” Bridges said, “ . . . and then we were stuck. Didn’t know what to do, how to break it.”
James Harden had 24 points and Russell Westbrook scored 23 for the Clippers. Leonard had 21 despite shooting 6-for-15.
Bridges led the Nets with 26 points, 20 of which came in the first half. Thomas had 20 points and tied his career high with six assists but had four turnovers. Claxton and Spencer Dinwiddie had 16 points each.
The Nets had been in control since the opening tip. Bridges made a three-pointer in the first eight seconds and the Nets scored the game’s first 16 points. Even when the Clippers responded with an 18-2 run, the Nets pushed back with two consecutive shots by Dennis Smith Jr., who had 13 points off the bench.
“Just being up by so much throughout the game and then to have a fourth-quarter collapse like that, it was kind of tough,” Thomas said. “It happens, but we just got to stick to the game plan, stick to what we were doing that was working and just finish it out, get stops.”
The Nets will begin a five-game homestand on Tuesday against the Knicks. Friday’s win seemed to indicate that they might have turned a corner, but Sunday reminded them they still have quite a ways to go to be a more consistent team.
“Very disappointing. We played a good game,” Smith said. “We blew it.”
Evan Barnes covers the Giants for Newsday. He previously covered the Brooklyn Nets, Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
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