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In Thursday’s game against the Kings, Mikal Bridges made an effort to carry the Nets on his back in the final minutes of the game.
The Nets tried to make a comeback after being down by 17 points in the second half and a nine-point deficit with 5:14 left in the fourth quarter.
Bridges scored seven consecutive points to keep the Nets in the game, but it was not enough as the Kings sealed a 101-96 win with a Malik Monk 3-pointer and a De’Aaron Fox offensive rebound.
After a rough five-game road trip, the Nets returned to Brooklyn to face another challenging opponent in the Kings.
They were prepared for the one-two punch of Fox and Domantas Sabonis. Sabonis dominated the first half, while Fox starred in the second, resulting in the Nets’ second straight loss.
This was a disappointing start to a four-game homestand for the Nets against four teams bound for the postseason.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn expressed his concern about facing the Kings, who have the top offense in the league, and rightfully so.
“They have two All-Stars [Sabonis and Fox], and they play like that every night,” Vaughn said.
“Sabonis can dictate the offense and push it.” Sabonis pushed around the undersized Nets and sparked a 13-0 run at the end of the first half that broke open the tie game.
The Nets managed to cut the deficit to six with 4:11 to go in the third with ten straight points, but Sacramento built another 13-point lead in the third.
The Nets cut it back to five with a Nic Claxton shot with 6:42 left.
Bridges hit two straight jumpers and a free throw to bring the Nets back to within five, but Cam Johnson’s 3-point attempt rimmed out with 3:42 left.
In the first half, the Nets opened up a nine-point lead in the first quarter, highlighted by ten early points from Bridges.
However, Bridges didn’t score again for the rest of the half, and Sacramento went on a 10-0 run to take the lead, with Sabonis dominating inside.
Sabonis scored seven straight points for the Kings late in the second quarter, as Sacramento took the lead. Nic Claxton picked up his third foul before the half.
Sacramento had their largest advantage of the game at halftime, leading 54-41, and outrebounded the Nets 32-22 in the first half.
Sabonis had 12 boards to go along with his 20 first-half points. Fox heated up in the third quarter with a pair of quick 3-pointers.
The Nets have to recover quickly as they face the struggling Denver Nuggets, who still lead the Western Conference, in Brooklyn on Sunday.
Vaughn emphasized the importance of this stretch of games for the Nets, trying to stay out of the play-in round.
“It’s important with where we are in the season,” Vaughn said. “Each game, can we put four quarters together? Because if you don’t this week, you’ll definitely pay for it.”
»Nets’ Comeback Attempt Falls Short Against Top-Scoring Kings«
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