After blowing a huge lead Thursday against Golden State, the Nets had an encore meltdown Saturday in Charlotte, N.C.
Brooklyn imploded down the stretch in a 105-102 loss at the Hornets, their season-worst skid now up to seven straight defeats.
After squandering a 22-point cushion at home against the Warriors, this one was far worse.
Miles Bridges puts up a shot as Day’Ron Sharpe defends during the Nets’ 105-102 loss to the Hornets on March 8, 2025. APThe Nets (21-42) coughed up a 17-point lead, then a nine-point advantage with just 3 ½ minutes left against a shorthanded Charlotte team without LaMelo Ball.
It marked a league-worst fifth time Brooklyn has blown a 17-point lead in a loss, per Elias.
The Nets got outworked and out-hustled down the stretch, outscored 34-9 on second-chance points.
“It’s just disappointing because of our effort to finish possessions. They had 34 second-chance points to our nine, a 25-point differential,” said Jordi Fernández. “We had the lead and we were not responsible to finish the game. You could tell how our energy and our engagement was up and down. That’s immature. I’m the first one that has got to control that. If this happened to our team, it’s my fault.”
The Nets led 97-83 with seven minutes left after D’Angelo Russell (game-high 28 points, seven assists and six rebounds) hit a 3-pointer off a feed by Noah Clowney, back from a sprained ankle. But they allowed a 22-5 run the rest of the way.
The Nets came unglued when faced with Charlotte’s ball pressure, unable to get a good look.
Taj Gibson (left) and Malachi Flynn battle for a loose ball during the Nets’ loss to the Hornets. APAfter Cam Thomas found Ziaire Williams (19 points) for a 3-pointer and a 102-93 lead with 4:03 left, the Nets didn’t score again.
They missed their final seven shots with a couple of turnovers, conceding a dozen unanswered points.
Damion Baugh hit a layup to cut the lead to 102-101 with 2:11 to play, and Russell lost the ball out of bounds.
Then, after Nick Smith Jr. missed a jumper, Brooklyn failed to box out and let Moussa Diabate snake in for a putback.
Jordi Fernandez gives an animated expression during the Nets’ loss to the Hornets. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters ConnectThe Nets trailed for the first time since 4-3, and couldn’t recover. They got the ball into the hands of Thomas, but with 4.7 seconds to play he got blocked by Miles Bridges.
The Charlotte star was coming off a career-high 46 points on Friday and had 26 a night later — but he beat the Nets on the other end of the floor.
Smith iced it on the other end. Trendon Watford’s half-court heave rimmed out at the buzzer.
“It doesn’t come down to one possession,” said Fernández. “They scored 20 second-chance points in the first half and 14 in the second half, and when you lose by one possession, that is unacceptable.
“They wanted it more than us, and when that happens, usually the basketball gods help you, and that’s what happened tonight.”
The Nets are a half-game behind Toronto for fifth in the lottery standings after the Raptors had a game-winning basket overturned by review.
Brooklyn is a half-game ahead of No. 7 Philadelphia in the lottery standings.
But Fernández wasn’t worried about that in his postgame message to his team about the need to pay attention to details down the stretch.
“I think just doing all the little things and what it takes to win at the end of the game,” said Russell. “It could be something as simple as a box out, a rebound, a free throw, all of that. Just staying locked in for 48 minutes and attacking the scouting report, what we’re trying to do. Focus.”
Clowney logged a scoreless 18:06 in his first action since Jan. 27.
