In five succinct words, Brooklyn coach Jordi Fernandez summed up the Nets’ most recent frustrating performance — but he may as well have been talking about their overall season ahead of Monday’s clash with the host Dallas Mavericks.
“There’s some good, some bad,” Fernandez surmised after Brooklyn’s 103-98 road loss to the Memphis Grizzlies on Sunday, the first leg of back-to-back games.
The Nets’ poor start and nightmare finish bookended an otherwise gritty performance in between.
“The start of the game, the first six minutes, I think they scored 22 points … in the last three, they scored 13 (to Brooklyn’s none),” Fernandez said. “If you take those minutes away, you (don’t) count those nine minutes when they scored 35, then the rest of the game you can do the math. It’s pretty good.”
Noah Clowney and Tyrese Martin scored 17 points each for the Nets, who were missing a few pieces, including their main one.
Forward Michael Porter Jr., easily Brooklyn’s best scorer averaging a career-best 25.9 points in his first season as a Net, was rested. Forward Ziaire Williams (illness) and guard Drake Powell (knee) also were unavailable.
Martin’s 5-of-7 3-point shooting, Day’Ron Sharpe’s 13 rebounds in 21 minutes and Nolan Traore’s six assists highlighted a strong display from Brooklyn’s reserves against the Grizzlies.
“I thought our second group did an amazing job,” Fernandez said. “And our first group at the start of the third quarter were locked in, too. You see it (the third) was our best quarter — 24-16. Great job to go on the road, not start well, (and) come together. Second group did a great job, played the right way, brought it back and then the first group responded. It’s just we were not able to finish it.”
The Nets have now lost their past three, while Dallas will be seeking to avoid a third successive defeat after going down 125-107 to the Bulls in Chicago on Saturday.
The Mavericks were outscored in every quarter in a game notable for coach Jason Kidd being ejected midway through the first quarter for arguing with referee Scott Foster.
Dallas was without Anthony Davis, who suffered ligament damage in his left hand in last Thursday’s loss to the Utah Jazz. The injury is expected to sideline the 10-time All-Star for multiple months.
It is a massive blow for the Mavs, with P.J. Washington also doubtful to play against Brooklyn after missing the past three outings with a right ankle sprain.
“It’s tough to win in this league without your best players,” Dallas assistant coach Frank Vogel said. “Those two guys are critical for us. You have to find a way still. It’s a next-man-up league. Everybody deals with injuries, but not having them in there puts us at a deficit, not just with our starting lineup, but then you get into your bench. Your bench guys are now in your starting lineup, and it’s challenging.”
Those challenges have opened up opportunities. Four Mavericks rookies — Cooper Flagg, Ryan Nembhard, Moussa Cisse and Miles Kelly — all shared the court at the same time against Chicago.
“Great group of guys who work super hard every day,” Nembhard said. “We’re all at different stages … but it was nice to share that floor together. It’s a testament to the work everyone’s put out.
“It’s nice to have a bunch of guys who are going through the same experiences together, (and) figuring out the league together. It’s a dream come true for all of us. It’s fun to be around those guys.”
