The Nets lost a game that set offense back 40 years.
Then again, that might be insulting to the players of the 1980s.
The Nets fell 106-95 to Miami before a sellout crowd of 17,548 at Barclays Center on Thursday night in a physical slugfest that favored the experienced, grizzled Heat.
The Nets shot just 38.8 percent, and 11-for-49 from 3-point range.
Norman Powell, who scored a team-high 24 points for Miami, slams home a dunk during the Nets’ 106-95 loss to the Heat at Barclays Center on Dec. 18, 2025. NBAE via Getty Images
Content to chuck from behind the arc, they rarely punished Miami for their perimeter aggression by driving with just eight made free throws all night, their second-lowest total of the season.
“I thought for the most part, they called a good football game out there because it was not basketball,” coach Jordi Fernández said, tongue in cheek. “It was physical on both ends … and I’m happy with that. I think we drove enough times that we should’ve gotten the same amount of free throws. But, it is what it is.”
Even though the young Nets actually had fewer giveaways, they got punished more for them, with Miami enjoying an 18-9 edge in points off turnovers.
Nic Claxton, who had 16 points and 12 rebounds, slams home a dunk during the Nets’ home loss to the Heat. Corey Sipkin for New York PostThe deficit was 8-2 in the fourth quarter, when Brooklyn got outscored 29-22.
“[We have to] not be careless, be decisive with our movements. I had a turnover. … Those hurt us, especially when we’re turning the ball over and they’re going to get layups. So we just got to learn from it,” said Michael Porter Jr., who had a game-high 28 points but suffered through a rare off shooting night, going 10-for-24 overall and 5-for-14 from deep.
Nic Claxton flirted with another triple-double (16 points, 12 rebounds, eight assists, three blocks), but was the only efficient Net.
Noah Clowney was 0-for-9 from deep, and Brooklyn seemed content to keep heaving from there.
“They were shots we’ve been making. We missed a lot of shots,” Claxton said.
The Nets had come in enjoying their best form of the season, winning four of their prior six.
But all of those contests came against losing teams.
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Thursday started a new six-game stretch where all but one are against winning foes.
Brooklyn (7-19) is sixth in the lottery odds. They moved 1 ¹/₂ games clear of No. 7 Charlotte after the Hornets held on to beat the Hawks.
They were a game behind the Kings, pending Sacramento’s game vs. Portland.
Jordi Fernández has a perplexed expression as he works the sidelines during the Nets’ home loss to the Heat. Corey Sipkin for New York PostRookie Drake Powell was forced out of the game due to a right ankle sprain, and didn’t return.
He had ankle woes over summer and preseason, though those were to his left ankle.
