Nets' overtime loss to Spurs clinches first losing season since 2020
Victor Wembanyama of the San Antonio Spurs blocks the shot of Mikal Bridges of the Brooklyn Nets in the first half. Credit: Getty Images/Ronald Cortes
AUSTIN, Texas — During the Nets’ loss to the Pacers on Saturday, Dennis Schroder and Cam Johnson had a sideline conversation as they tried to sort out the team’s lingering issues.
It carried over to a players- only meeting later that night. Schroder’s message was not to take playing in the NBA for granted, and the Nets responded with inspired play Sunday against a Spurs team fighting to build momentum for next season.
The stronger effort made the Nets’ 122-115 overtime loss at Moody Center even more disheartening. They led by 10 points with less than six minutes to play in regulation and had a scoreless drought in the final 2:51 of overtime.
Cam Johnson missed a potential tying three-pointer with 12.1 seconds left in OT. “I was surprised, to say the least, that it didn’t fall,’’ he said. “It felt good.”
“We wanted [Dorian Finney-Smith] to flash to the ball and set a screen for Cam or Mikal [Bridges],” interim coach Kevin Ollie said. “We got a good look. I trust that shot with CJ taking that shot at the end of the game . . . to send it into double overtime.”
Ollie appreciated the Nets’ fight and took the blame for not having Cam Thomas (31 points) on the court for the possession. Thomas said there wasn’t any discussion about having him on the floor. “I guess they felt that was the best lineup to get a three off, so it was a good look. He just missed it,” said Thomas, who has scored at least 20 points in the last five games. “It is what it is. If he made it, we wouldn’t be here right now talking if I was in the game or not.’’
Victor Wembanyama threw down an alley-oop dunk to put the Spurs up 116-115 with 38.2 seconds left, then blocked a shot by Schroder that initially was called goaltending but was overturned on review. Keldon Johnson (24 points) hit a layup and added two free throws with 11.4 seconds left for a five-point lead.
The 7-4, 210-pound Wembanyama, last year’s No. 1 overall pick, finished with 33 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks for the Spurs (15-53). . He became the fourth player since 1973-74 to post at least 30 points, 15 rebounds, seven assists and seven blocks in a game, joining Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Joel Embiid and Charles Barkley.
“Man, he’s a generational talent for sure,’’ Nic Claxton said. “Just affecting the game in every aspect. Protecting the rim, knocking down shots, coming off screens, just doing things that you never see from a guy. You don’t even see people his height, really.”
With Nets owner Joe Tsai watching courtside, Schroder forced overtime with a three-pointer that tied it at 110 with 15.5 seconds left.
The Nets led 115-112 with 2:51 left in overtime after a steal and slam by Finney-Smith but never scored again.
The Nets (26-42) clinched their first losing season since 2019-20. They fell 4 1⁄2 games behind 10th-place Atlanta for the final play-in tournament spot.
Schroder had 19 points and seven assists, Bridges scored 14 points and Claxton had 11 points and 14 rebounds.
Devin Vassell had 25 points and eight assists for the Spurs.
Said Johnson, "It kind of lets you know that leads in the NBA are fragile. That’s just how it goes. But I mean, I think we kind of responded from there. And we had our moments. We had good looks; they just didn’t go down. And we had some good stops when we needed them. Just a couple of things didn’t go our way today.''
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
