Sean Kilpatrick, a spark off the bench, scores a career-high 25 points in Nets loss

Tonight, the Nets hosted the Charlotte Hornets at the Barclays Center. Coming into the game, the Hornets have held the Nets winless in the series this season. A win for Brooklyn would not only be their first against Charlotte this season but would also end a two-game losing streak. What would also be a first was Rondae Hollis-Jefferson’s return to the Nets lineup, his first appearance after missing 50 games with a fractured right ankle.

Part of the Nets’ strategy would be to contain Hornets guard Kemba Walker which proved successful as he was held to two points in the first half. The Nets offense sputtered as Brooklyn had a field goal percentage of 35.3% and turned over the ball ten times leading to eight Hornets points. Although Brooklyn struggled from the field, the team went to the free throw line twelve times versus two times for Charlotte. At half-time, Charlotte had the lead 46-36.

The Hornets maintained their ten-point lead until the 3:30 mark when Nets guard Shane Larkin’s three-pointer cut the lead to single digits. Nets guard Sean Kilpatrick, who normally provides a spark off the bench, did just that by completing a three-point play after driving to the basket and getting fouled. Hornets lead was cut to four. The energy of both the Barclays Center and the Nets heightened as Brooklyn locked down on defense.

The fourth quarter began with a three-point Charlotte lead and it quickly turned into a battle of the point guards as Shane Larkin and Hornets guard, Jeremy Lin, went back and forth scoring points for their respective teams. The Nets hot streak would end as their turnovers disrupted the rhythm of the offense and created scoring opportunities for the Hornets. The Nets found themselves down by 11. When the Nets needed a jolt of electricity, Sean Kilpatrick answered the call. His two three-pointers followed by a thunderous dunk by Hollis-Jefferson cut the lead to three. Unfortunately, the Nets couldn’t capitalize on scoring opportunities in the waning moments of the game and fell to the Hornets 105-100. Brook Lopez scored 29 points and Kilpatrick had a career-high 25 points.