Brooklyn Nets’ Slump Continues with Loss to Oklahoma City Thunder
The Brooklyn Nets’ struggles continued as they suffered a 124-108 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder at Paycom Center on Sunday night. This defeat marks their eighth loss in the last ten games. The Nets’ only victories during this slump have come against the Detroit Pistons, who recently ended a 28-game losing streak.
Despite building a double-digit lead in the first quarter, the Nets were unable to maintain their advantage and allowed the Thunder to dominate in the second quarter. The Thunder’s strong defense and efficient shooting proved to be too much for the struggling Nets.
The Nets’ defensive woes have been a major factor in their recent losses. Prior to this game, they had been conceding an average of almost 122 points per game and allowing opponents to shoot at a .495 percent clip. Against the Thunder, their defense was even worse, allowing 54.2 percent shooting and 18 of 33 from beyond the arc. This poor defensive performance hindered their transition game and resulted in a low shooting percentage of just 38 percent overall and 12 of 46 from three-point range.
Coach Jacque Vaughn acknowledged the challenges his team is facing, stating that they need to play together as a collective group every night. With no All-Stars on their team, the Nets rely on their teamwork and cohesion to succeed. However, they were unable to rise to the challenge against the Thunder.
Mikal Bridges led the Nets with 22 points, seven rebounds, and seven assists, while Cam Thomas contributed 20 points off the bench. Nic Claxton had a solid performance with 15 points and 16 rebounds, but he was outplayed by Chet Holmgren of the Thunder. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and Holmgren led the Thunder with 24 points and 18 points respectively.
The Thunder’s victory extends their winning streak to four games and marks their seventh win in the last eight games. They have defeated strong teams like the Denver Nuggets and the Minnesota Timberwolves during this stretch. The Nets, on the other hand, were unable to pose a significant challenge to the Thunder.
Despite starting the game with an 18-8 lead, the Nets were unable to maintain their advantage. They went cold in the second quarter, missing seven straight shots and allowing the Thunder to go on a 10-0 run. From that point on, the Nets never regained the lead.
The Nets made several attempts to close the gap, but they were unsuccessful. The Thunder pulled away in the third quarter, extending their lead to 21 points in the fourth quarter.
Overall, it was a disappointing performance for the Nets as they continue to struggle. They will need to regroup and find a way to turn things around in their upcoming games.
