Nets lose in overtime to Blazers as same old troubles pop up
Nets forward Mikal Bridges and forward Cameron Johnson react late in overtime of an NBA basketball game against the Portland Trail Blazers at Barclays Center on Sunday, Jan. 7, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
When the Nets lost 10 of 12 games before Friday’s win over the Thunder, the rock-bottom moment was losing to the Wizards, who have the second-worst record in the Eastern Conference.
The Nets had a similar crater moment Sunday, dropping a 134-127 overtime decision to the visiting Trail Blazers, owners of the Western Conference’s second-worst record.
Fans at Barclays Center who rejoiced at the end of regulation left in disbelief after the team’s 11th loss in 14 games.
The Nets’ Mikal Bridges (42 points) hit a tying jumper with 1.5 seconds remaining in regulation, but Malcolm Brogdon sank a pair of three-pointers in overtime to put Portland (10-25) ahead for good. Brogdon had eight of his 18 points in OT as the Trail Blazers shot 6-for-7 in the period.
Nets coach Jacque Vaughn had few words to say and was visibly frustrated.
“Very disappointing, just overall, to not win this basketball game. Extremely disappointing,” he said.
Bridges scored at least 40 points for the third time this season, but it meant little to him or the Nets (16-21).
Anfernee Simons had 38 points to lead the Trail Blazers, who shot 20-for-38 from three-point range (52.6%). The Trail Blazers, who had lost three straight games, entered Sunday with the NBA’s worst field-goal percentage.
“Our defense is predicated on protecting the paint,” Bridges said. “So we give up threes, and it’s tough when you play teams with guys that can shoot. It hurts.”
With the Nets down 108-101 with 4:40 left, Bridges scored three of their next four baskets and Dennis Smith Jr. hit a go-ahead layup with 1:46 left.
Simons answered with a three-pointer to put the Trail Blazers up 113-111 with 1:23 left and Bridges tied the score with a jumper. After Shaedon Sharpe made a layup with 5.5 seconds left, Bridges got to the left side of the court for a step-back 15-foot jumper.
It should’ve been another moment in his catalog of clutch play this season. Instead, after Bridges put the Nets up 123-121 with 2:23 left in overtime, the Trail Blazers closed the game on a 13-4 run.
“You just want to win this one bad,” Bridges said. “Just trying to get a streak going, but we got another game coming up. Just got to go get that one.”
Jerami Grant had 27 points for the Trail Blazers and Sharpe added 21 points off the bench.
Cam Johnson had 17 points for the Nets and Nic Claxton added 16 points (8-for-8 shooting), 11 rebounds and four blocks, tying his season high. Smith had 10 points and 10 assists off the bench before fouling out.
The Nets’ Day’Ron Sharpe had 11 points and six rebounds but left the game in the fourth quarter with a sprained left knee and didn’t return. Vaughn said he’ll get an MRI on Monday and won’t immediately travel with the team to France for Thursday’s NBA Paris Game against the Cavaliers.
It added another blow to a team struggling to consistently defend over the past three weeks. Even defeating the Thunder couldn’t hide it as the Nets let a 32-point second-half lead get whittled to six in that game.
Now they’ll try to figure out how they allowed an opponent to launch and make so many threes.
“You have to pick your poison,” Vaughn said. “We have to protect the rim first and we didn’t do either tonight. They got to the rim on us and shot threes. Can’t do both.”
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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