ATLANTA — Mikal Bridges gave the Nets a virtuoso offensive performance. But even he can’t overcome what’s become of their defense.
In a back-and-forth between Bridges and Atlanta’s Trae Young, the Hawks star got the last word. And the win.
Bridges carried the Nets back from a 15-point deficit and a late fourth-quarter hole. But he got betrayed by Brooklyn’s defense and in the end was stymied by Atlanta’s, blocked at the rim in the final seconds of a 147-145 overtime loss before a sellout crowd of 17,340 at State Farm Arena.
It was a career-high tying night for Bridges, who poured in 25 of his 45 after the third quarter.
But he will rue the two he didn’t get, blocked on a layup by Onyeka Okongwu with the Nets down one and 8.1 seconds left in overtime.
“Yeah, just got to make them, that’s what it is. Just got to make them,” said Bridges. “I missed some easy ones , some layups I should have made that’s going to haunt me a day or two. But yeah, just gotta make them.”
Trae Young, who scored 43 points, drives to the basket during the Nets’ 147-145 overtime loss to the Hawks. Getty ImagesYoung, who had 43 points, sank two free throws on the other end to virtually ice it.
Bridges made two to get the Nets back within 146-145 with three seconds left.
Young hit one of two with 2.2 seconds to go and the Nets couldn’t get it to Bridges on the final possession, forcing Lonnie Walker IV into a tough shot that was off the mark.
Mikal Bridges scores against Hawks forward Jalen Johnson. AP“Yeah, I thought overall execution was pretty good even in going to overtime. We got Mikal a look, not a lot of time on the clock. Last possession was for Mikal, pretty good look,” said Nets coach Jacque Vaughn. “They switched the last screen that we had, which brought Lonnie to the basketball. Think [Dorian Finney-Smith] might have been open for a second, just because they did have to emergency switch. So we executed what we wanted to. One winner, one loser.”
That winner was Atlanta, despite coming off a draining 157-152 marathon against Indiana a night earlier.
It was Brooklyn that lost, looking a step slow early. It fell behind by 15 early, and eight in the fourth quarter.
Cam Johnson shoots a 3-pointer during the Nets’ loss. NBAE via Getty ImagesBridges rallied the Nets, but couldn’t save their defense.
“I think … I don’t know. I think it’s just a mix of … we just … honestly I don’t know,” Bridges said, at a loss for words to pinpoint why they’ve suddenly started to hemorrhage points. “I just got to watch this game. But other games, just whatever the coaches give us, you gotta be able to do it. I think it’s a little different than the past from last year and things like that. But we’ve just all got … all of us got to be on the same page out there.”
The Nets have coughed up 390 points in their last three games, all losses.
Mikal Bridges had 45 points for the Nets. Getty ImagesThey’ve surrendered 49-of-119 shooting from behind the arc.
“Yeah, we just got to figured it out. We just … we’re helping, but we just got to step up for the next guy. When we run our defense and trying to stop the ball getting into paint, we just got to help each other out,” said Bridges. “But yeah, it’s tough. I mean, yeah, just the defense we have, kind of you can give up those shots over there. And it’s tough. You just got to figure it out.”
Spencer Dinwiddie had 26 points and 12 assists, while Cam Johnson added 23 and the game-tying tip-in to force overtime.
But he cramped up and missed the extra session.
