Shorthanded Nets run out of gas before losing to Golden State
Golden State guard Stephen Curry shoots defended by Brooklyn Nets forward Cameron Johnson at Barclays Center on Monday, Feb. 5, 2024. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
Late in the fourth quarter of the Nets’ 109-98 loss to Golden State on Monday night, Cam Thomas and Dennis Smith Jr. were doubled over, grabbing their shorts. Their teammates had their hands on their hips.
The Nets already were shorthanded with Ben Simmons out for injury maintenance, but they also were gassed with an eight-man rotation. Fatigue set in as much as Stephen Curry pulled his team away, scoring 12 points in the fourth quarter.
It wasn’t an ideal way to start a back-to-back as the Nets (20-29) faded at Barclays Center.
“It’s tough, playing against a team like that. Lot of movement off the ball,” said Thomas, who played 36 minutes before fouling out. “With eight people, it’s tough. Tomorrow, I think we’re going to have these same rotations, I’m not sure. But we just got to find a way to win, find a way to bring that energy.”
Simmons, Day’Ron Sharpe and Dorian Finney-Smith were out with injuries and Lonnie Walker IV played only four minutes in the first quarter before exiting with left hamstring tightness. It’s the same hamstring that cost him 17 games earlier this season.
So the minutes added up. Mikal Bridges played 43 minutes and Spencer Dinwiddie 39. Nic Claxton played 36 but was ejected with 4:59 remaining in the game after committing a flagrant-2 foul on Brandin Podziemski. Smith went 31 minutes.
It didn’t help that the Nets shot 38.2% from the field. Golden State (22-25) gave the Nets 17 points off 14 turnovers yet still won despite shooting 4-for-22 on three-pointers.
Coach Jacque Vaughn defended his shorter rotations by saying he thought Harry Giles III would have trouble defending Golden State on screens. He said he didn’t play Trendon Watford after Walker’s injury because of how well the team played with Smith.
“I wanted to go back with Dennis,” Vaughn said. “We play tomorrow and I thought that group, I was going to ride those guys tonight. That’s it, just concerned about tonight.”
The Nets led the entire second quarter and the first half of the third. They were tied at 67 with 3:38 left in the period but didn’t make another field goal until 9:11 remained in the fourth.
Golden State went on a 13-4 run during the Nets’ drought. A three-pointer by Royce O’Neale got the Nets within 84-80, but Curry made a layup and a three-pointer to provide a cushion.
Claxton had 15 points, five rebounds and a career-high seven blocks before his night ended early. Thomas had 18 points but shot 4-for-21 from the field. O’Neale had 15 points on 5-for-7 shooting from three-point range in the fourth quarter. Bridges had 13 points but was 5-for-15.
Curry had 29 points and Jonathan Kuminga had 28 to lead Golden State, which outrebounded the Nets 60-38 and outscored them 72-38 in the paint.
“They crashed the glass,” O’Neale said. “Sixteen offensive rebounds, so I mean, we just got to be more alert, box out and play a little more physical,”
Simmons likely will return Tuesday at Barclays Center against the Mavericks — who enjoyed a 16-point win in Philadelphia on Monday — and Kyrie Irving, who was traded by the Nets to Dallas exactly a year ago.
Evan Barnes covers the Nets for Newsday. He previously covered Memphis football and the Memphis Grizzlies and also covered prep sports in Los Angeles.
