Generally awkward scheduling has its perks.
The Nets taking part in back-to-back highway video games in opposition to the Indiana Pacers meant that they had alternative to rapidly avenge Thursday’s time beyond regulation loss inside Gainbridge Fieldhouse, a sport that featured a heated scuffle between the groups and Trendon Watford’s first profession ejection.
Issues had been simply as dramatic this time round, although there weren’t any bodily altercations. The Nets pushed the No. 4 seed within the Japanese Convention to the brink thanks to a different late-game rally, however Indiana did simply sufficient in clutch time to flee with a 108-103 win.
The Nets fell to 23-48 with the loss and have now dropped 9 straight highway video games relationship again to Feb. 24.
Brooklyn’s Cam Johnson and Indiana’s Tyrese Haliburton returned from their respective absences for Saturday’s rematch in Indianapolis. Ziaire Williams (proper hamstring tightness) and D’Angelo Russell (proper ankle soreness) sat for precautionary causes, per Nets head coach Jordi Fernandez.
Leaning on Haliburton’s shot making and creation, the Pacers established management early and went up 28-19 with 1:02 left within the first quarter. The Nets minimize their deficit to 3 by the top of the interval, thanks largely to stellar play from their bench, fueled by Watford.
Nonetheless, by the three:01 mark of the second quarter, Brooklyn discovered itself trailing by 13 factors as a result of they couldn’t restrict the Pacers in transition or guard the 3-point line. Indiana shot 54.5% within the second quarter and went 6-for-10 from deep.
Whereas each groups made 12 photographs within the interval, Indiana doubled up Brooklyn from behind the arc and had a three-make benefit on the free throw line. It added as much as a nine-point deficit for the guests at halftime, and so they didn’t exit the break with a lot juice.
The Pacers opened the third quarter on a 13-5 run to go up 71-57 with 9:51 left. Much like the primary half, Brooklyn’s bench trickled in and continued to chip away. It was a nine-point sport with 4:01 left within the interval. However the Nets failed to attain for the rest of the quarter. Indiana went into the ultimate body with a 20-point lead, its largest benefit of the night time at that time.
However the Nets weren’t executed. In a wildly environment friendly offensive fourth quarter, they used a 21-2 run, capped off by a Tyrese Martin 3-pointer and a Nic Claxton dunk, to make it a one-point sport with 4:30 left.
The remainder got here all the way down to poise and execution. As soon as once more, the Nets couldn’t discover a approach to end. From there, Indiana responded with a 10-4 run to go up 102-94 with 27.8 seconds left. Watford drilled a ridiculous 3-pointer that made it a three-point sport with 8.1 seconds left, however the Pacers had been in a position to salt the sport away on the free throw line, placing what was one other livid Brooklyn rally to relaxation.
Watford and Haliburton had been seen exchanging phrases earlier than and after the ultimate buzzer.
Watford, maybe taking part in with an additional layer of motivation following Thursday’s ejection and subsequent effective, loved his most interesting efficiency in a Nets uniform, ending with 26 factors and 5 rebounds in half-hour. Cam Johnson added 20 factors, 9 rebounds and 5 assists.
Pascal Siakam paced Indiana with 26 factors, three rebounds and 6 assists in 34 minutes. The Pacers outscored Brooklyn 54-48 within the paint and 21-8 in transition.
The Nets will return to motion on Monday in opposition to the Dallas Mavericks at Barclays Heart.
