Nets can't match physical Pelicans, lose fourth game in row
Keita Bates-Diop of the Nets is guarded by Zion Williamson of the Pelicans at Barclays Center on Tuesday. Credit: Errol Anderson
During the second quarter of the Nets hosting the Pelicans Tuesday night, Liberty mascot Ellie the Elephant performed her popular, high-energy dance routine after a timeout.
It proved a stark contrast to the inconsistent energy the Nets showed losing, 104-91, in their first home game since March 5. They trailed by 22 points in the second quarter at Barclays Center yet regrouped to hold the Pelicans to just 40 points in the second half.
The Nets (26-43) lost their fourth consecutive game, their longest losing streak since losing four in mid-February. They’re also now 4 1⁄2 games behind the Hawks for the final play-in tournament spot with 13 games left.
Despite his team shooting just 36.9%, their fifth-worst total of the season, interim coach Kevin Ollie praised his team’s defensive prowess in the second half. It just wasn’t enough to overcome an early hole thanks to the Pelicans going on 20-4 run to open the second quarter.
“Those are games we should win. We just didn’t make enough shots tonight to win,” Ollie said.
It was the reverse of Sunday’s loss to the Spurs where the Nets came out focused and faded late in the fourth quarter and overtime.
On Tuesday, they trailed 64-45 at halftime but tightened up defensively after the break.
They cut the lead to 68-57 but the Pelicans (42-26) regained control with a 15-5 run. For the second time this season, they dominated the Nets with their physicality, outscoring them 52-32 in paint points.
Zion Williamson had his way with the Nets inside with 28 points on 11-for-16 shooting. The two-time All-Star forward also showed off his high-flying ability with a thunderous alley-oop dunk in the fourth quarter.
It brought the biggest roar of the night from the crowd, who kept themselves entertained in the fourth doing “The Wave” after the eight-minute mark.
Cam Thomas scored 25 points to continue a career-best streak of six straight games with at least 20 points since his return from a sprained ankle. Mikal Bridges had 15 points and made four three-pointers while Dennis Schroder added 12 points.
Day’Ron Sharpe had a career-high 17 rebounds off the bench. Six Pelicans players scored in double figures.
The Nets were held under 100 points for the 12th time this season. However, they took pride in holding the Pelicans, a team averaging 116.1 points, to just 104 as a positive ahead of a four-game road trip.
“We can definitely look at the stuff we did in the second half and show that it’s the team we need to be for these last 13 games,” Thomas said.
Bridges hits milestone
Tuesday night was Bridges’ 500th consecutive game played to start his NBA career, including playoffs. Only counting regular-season games, Bridges has played 461 without an absence.
Bridges, who also didn’t miss a game in college at Villanova, has the NBA’s longest regular-season games played streak since Derek Fisher played 538 from 2005-2012.
Since the 1984-85 season, only Michael Finley had played in more regular season games (490) to start a career.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
