Mikal Bridges tried to place the Nets on his again within the remaining minutes of Thursday’s sport towards the Kings.
The Nets tried to come back again from a 17-point second-half deficit and a nine-point gap with 5:14 left within the fourth quarter, and Bridges scored seven consecutive factors to maintain the Nets within the sport.
However a Malik Monk 3-pointer and a De’Aaron Fox offensive rebound helped seal a 101-96 win for Sacramento.
After surviving a tough five-game street journey, the Nets returned to Brooklyn, the place they confronted one other stiff take a look at within the Kings.
They have been ready for the 1-2 punch of Fox and Domantas Sabonis.
Sabonis dominated for the primary half, and Fox starred within the second within the Nets’ second straight loss.
It was a disappointing begin to a four-game homestand for the Nets (39-31) towards 4 groups that look to be sure for the postseason.
Head coach Jacque Vaughn mentioned earlier than the sport he was cautious of going through the Kings (42-27), who’ve the highest offense within the league.
He was proper to be involved.
“They’ve two All-Stars [Sabonis and Fox], and so they play like that each evening,’’ Vaughn mentioned. “Sabonis can dictate the offense and push it.”
He pushed across the undersized Nets and helped spark a 13-0 run on the finish of the primary half that broke open what had been a tie sport.
The Nets received again into the sport with 10 straight factors to chop the deficit to 6 with 4:11 to go within the third.
Sacramento constructed one other 13-point lead within the third, and the Nets reduce it again to 5 with a Nic Claxton with 6:42 left.
Royce O’Neale missed a 3-pointer that may have made it a two-point sport.
Bridges hit two straight jumpers and a free throw to get the Nets again to inside 5, and Cam Johnson’s 3-point try rimmed out with 3:42 left.
It got here after the Nets light within the second half of their final sport on the journey in Oklahoma Metropolis.
The Nets opened up a nine-point lead within the first quarter, highlighted by 10 early factors from Bridges.
However Bridges didn’t rating once more for the remainder of the half and Sacramento went on a 10-0 run to take the lead, with Sabonis dominating inside.
Sabonis scored seven straight factors for the Kings late within the second quarter, as Sacramento took the lead.
Within the course of, Nic Claxton picked up his third foul earlier than the half.
It was a part of one other 13-0 run by Sacramento, because the Kings took a 54-41 lead into the second half, their largest benefit of the sport.
The Nets have been additionally outrebounded, 32-22, within the first half. Sabonis had 12 boards to go together with his 20 first-half factors.
Fox heated up within the third quarter with a pair of fast 3-pointers.
The Nets should get well shortly, with Denver — struggling, however nonetheless main the Western Convention — coming to Brooklyn on Sunday.
Vaughn acknowledged how essential this stretch of video games is to the Nets, attempting to remain out of the play-in spherical.
“It’s necessary with the place we’re within the season,’’ Vaughn mentioned. “Every sport, can we put 4 quarters collectively? As a result of for those who don’t this week, you’ll undoubtedly pay for it.”
