March 28, 2024

Joe Harris and D’Angelo Russell each scored 16 points, but all Clippers’ starters scored in double digits

Monday night was not a good night for the Brooklyn Nets at the Barclays Center. Team black-and-white could not make any inroads against the Los Angeles Clippers and its 114-101 loss brings the Nets’ losing streak to six consecutive games. Right now, sitting on a 19-39 win-loss record for this season, the Nets need to hustle to bypass its 20-62 win-loss record from last season in order to show that it is an improved team. It hasn’t helped to have several injured players this season. D’Angelo Russell just returned after he was sidelined for six weeks, now both Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Caris LeVert are out with injuries. And, the Nets are really missing Hollis-Jefferson’s defensive presence.

Nets head coach Kenny Atkinson told reporters at his postgame presser that “defensively” is where the Nets struggled the most tonight.

“We couldn’t stop them,” Atkinson said regarding the Nets’ defensive abilities. “We never found any solution to stop them. They really got downhill on us. Their pick-and-roll game, their guards were in the paint and they were laying it up or shooting floaters or throwing the lob. We held them to 16 three’s but, again, did way too many paint drives. We knew we had to keep them out of the paint and we never did it. That was the story of the game, couldn’t stop them.”

The picture is not totally bleak, as there were some bright spots for Brooklyn. In this game against the Clippers, the Nets registered 10 steals led by three steals from Quincy Acy and two steals from Allen Crabbe. Brooklyn’s assist game was tight showing that the team played as a team, edging the Clippers 27-19 in assists. The Nets have averaged 30.0 assists per game in their last three games, compared to an average of 20.7 assists per game for their last three opponents.

The Nets weren’t exactly doormats. Joe Harris and D’Angelo Russell each had 16 points for the Nets, with Russell adding five assists, two rebounds, and one steal. Allen Crabbe totaled 15 points, six rebounds, two assists and a season-high-tying two steals in 33 minutes. Spencer Dinwiddie also scored in double figures for Brooklyn, tallying 13 points, eight assists, two rebounds and one steal in 36 minutes. DeMarre Carroll recorded his eighth double-double of the season tonight with 12 points and 10 rebounds in 35 minutes.

“Brooklyn shoots a lot of three’s and when they get it going it’s tough,” Los Angeles Clippers head coach Doc Rivers said regarding the Clippers’ need to step up its defense. “For the most part, I was pretty happy. We’ve had some bad losses here. The last two years we’ve had some big leads and it looked like it was going to happen again but we caught ourselves. Give Brooklyn credit. All year they come back. That’s how they play and we warned our guys about that when they started coming back. When they put them away at the end it was nice.”

For the Clippers, all of its starters scored in double digits, along with two from its second unit. Lou Williams came off the bench and led all scorers with 20 points. Austin Rivers scored 17 points. Both Danilo Gallinari and DeAndre Jordan scored 16 points. Jordan added 17 rebounds to his tally and Gallinari scored five boards. Montrezl Harrell tallied 15 points off the bench. Avery Bradley tallied 11 points, and Tobias Harris chipped in 10 points and eight rebounds.

Next up, the Clippers will face the Celtics in Boston on Wednesday, February 14, 2018. Also on Wednesday, the Nets will face the Indiana Pacers at home at the Barclays Center at 7:30 p.m.

Nets beat back the Clippers with a 127-122 double overtime win; Sean Kilpatrick scores a career-high 38 points

There was no California sunshine in Brooklyn on November 29th when Los Angeles Clippers came to town. Although the weather outside was dreary, fans ventured out in the elements to celebrate Barbados Culture Night and to cheer on the Brooklyn Nets as they took on one of the powerhouses in the Western Conference, the Los Angeles Clippers. Both teams entered the game looking to end their respective losing streaks, both looking for a spark to create a turnaround.

The start of the game wasn’t stellar for the Nets as they were held scoreless in the opening minutes of the game. Even though the Clippers shot 55% from the floor in the first quarter, the Nets were within striking distance trailing the Clippers by four points going into the second quarter. Brooklyn continued to trail the Los Angeles for the next two quarters, while the Clippers extended their lead to 18 points.

Would this be a repeat of the rout the Nets experienced at the hands of this team earlier in the month at the Staples Center? Perhaps that prospect was too much for the home team. Perhaps it was the scrappy never give up attitude that resides in the Brooklyn locker room. Whatever the reason, the fourth quarter saw a shift in momentum in favor of the Nets. Nets defense clamped down and a bucket by Sean Kilpatrick kicked the Nets offense into high gear. It wouldn’t be the last time an attendee heard “SSSSS K, Sean Kilpatrick” over the PA system after a made basket because Kilpatrick rattled off 20 points in the fourth quarter.

Nets center Brook Lopez contributed to the run and gave the Nets a three-point lead with little over one minute left in regulation. The never-give-up attitude wasn’t in short supply as Clippers point guard Chris Paul sank a game-tying three-pointer with 1.8 seconds left in the game. Sean Kilpatrick launched a potential game-winning shot for the Nets but it rattled off the rim sending the game into overtime.

The electricity in the Barclays Center was thick, the fans were charged and chants of “BROOOKLYNN!” filled the arena. The start of overtime saw the hot hand of Lopez give the Nets the lead and the Clippers fired back courtesy of DeAndre Jordan. Sean Kilpatrick was able to slice through the Clippers defense at will. The night took an interesting turn when Clippers head coach Doc Rivers was assessed a technical foul which sent him into a rage, requiring his staff and players to restrain him and he was gifted with a second technical foul resulting in ejection. With an early exit for Doc, his team was forced to sojourn without him. Missed free throws by Isaiah Whitehead left the door open for the Clippers to tie the score and Jamal Crawford did just that.

Enter the second overtime. The crowd was still energetic as ten exhausted bodies took to the court. Brooklyn had enough spark to outscore the Clippers 9-4 leading them to victory. The Nets ended their losing streak and brought a little sunshine to their fans. Nets center Brook Lopez recognized how integral a part the fans play during the game, calling it a “symbiotic relationship, just feeding off each other.”

 

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Nets couldn’t find a way to capitalize on momentum and finish off the Clippers

The Los Angeles Clippers (13-10) entered the Barclays Center on Saturday, to take on the Brooklyn Nets (7-15), who were looking to extend their two-game winning streak while the Clippers were looking to rebound after a tough loss to the Chicago Bulls two days prior.

The Clippers shooting woes appeared to be a thing of the past as they made 11 of their first 15 shots to start the game with guard JJ Redick rediscovering his shooter’s touch. The Nets kept pace with the Clippers for a good portion of the first quarter, but their misses from the beyond the arc proved to be the difference, as they fell behind in the first half.

Trailing the Clippers 57-44 at the half, the Nets opened the third quarter with a 7-2 run. With Jarrett Jack leading the offense, the Nets were able to penetrate the defense allowing open shots on the perimeter. After being held scoreless for three quarters, Andrea Bargnani found his stroke in the fourth playing an instrumental role in a 24-8 Nets run showing their competitive nature and desire to end the night with a win.

Trailing by 10 points, Nets head coach Lionel Hollins employed the “Hack-a-Jordan” strategy at the 5:20 mark in the fourth quarter. With DeAndre Jordan, the Clippers center, shooting just 39% from the free throw line, it became a game of odds. Fouling Jordan slowed down the game and gave the Nets offense more opportunities to score. Hollins’ strategy was successful, as the Nets further cut the Clippers lead. This forced Clippers head coach Doc Rivers to bench Jordan, removing his shot blocking ability that alters many of his opponents’ shots in the paint.

With the Clippers leading by two points and momentum in the Nets favor, Doc Rivers re-inserted Jordan into the lineup with 1:35 left in the game. Breakdowns in Nets defense allowed Chris Paul and Blake Griffin to make key baskets down the stretch.

When it was all said and done, the Nets succumbed to the Clippers 105-100.

Even though it was a loss, Nets head coach Lionel Hollins stood behind his team.

"Maybe we take the lead and control the game, but I'm proud of our guys -- how they battled, how they competed," Nets head coach Lionel Hollins said after the game. "You know, it's just disappointing that we couldn't come all the way back and get this win."

Thaddeus Young led all Nets scorers with 18 points. Other Nets starters scoring in double digits were Jarrett Jack with 16 points, both Joe Johnson and Bojan Bogdanovic tallied up 15 points, and Brook Lopez chipped in 14.

For the Clippers, JJ Redick and Blake Griffin scored team highs of 21 points each.

 

VIDEO: DeAndre Jordan's decision to back out of the verbal agreement to join Dallas Mavericks turns sports world upside down

Deandre Jordan caused quite a stir this past week when he gave a verbal agreement to join the Dallas Mavericks and then reneged on the handshake and returned to the Los Angeles Clippers for a 4-year max deal worth an estimated $88 million. Did Jordan open up a can of worms? Is there a lesson here for future free agencies?

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