LOS ANGELES — Brooklyn suffered a loss Friday night at Crypto.com Arena.
The Nets aim to not start their next game when they return Sunday afternoon.
“We can breathe a little bit. But we have to be ready to do it again against the Clippers,” Dennis Smith Jr. said. “We won and we did what we had to do. We have to let the water flow. [that] One is to prepare for the next step. ”
The Nets came to Los Angeles having lost 14 of 17 games, missing out on a spot in the play-ins.
The win ended their run…at least for a day.
A win against the Lakers followed by a loss to the Clippers would turn what was supposed to be an epiphany into an anomaly.
“Yes, it was a good step. It was a step in the right direction. But to be honest, we didn't do anything. Just one game, one game where we put it all together,” Cam Thomas said. said. “We have a tough game ahead of us on Sunday against a team that is in good form.
“The Clippers are playing well and playing great ball. So you have to watch this movie and translate it into the next movie, because this is the NBA. This game is this. It's over. They've got a good team, they've got a championship-worthy team. They're coming, so we've got to pick it up and take it to another level. So this movie. Look at it and try running the next game.Try building two games in a row.”
On Friday night, it was Thomas who scored a game-high 33 points on national television to defeat his favorite team since childhood.
However, it was against a Lakers team that is currently just 7-13 since winning the NBA In-Season Tournament.
He played defense while the Nets were winning. Getty Images
The Nets will be back on the field in less than 36 hours to face a red-hot Clippers team that presents a completely different challenge.
“We can definitely continue to grow at this rate,” center Nick Claxton said. He had 22 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in a complete loss against All-Star Anthony Davis. “We know how the Clippers want to play. They've been playing very well. So it's going to be a really good challenge for us.
“But we just have to come out and focus on our principles and focus on ourselves and build on what we've been doing.” [Friday]”
The Clippers, including former Nets superstar James Harden, are on fire.
On November 8, Brooklyn defeated the Clippers 100-93, but Los Angeles suffered a six-game losing streak.
Harden was in the process of forming his new Big Three with Kawhi Leonard and Paul George.
The Clippers have now won nine of their past 11 games.
And they've been off since Tuesday's game against Oklahoma City, so they'll be well rested.
For the Nets, an earlier home win won't carry any more weight than Friday's win.
“In the first game, they weren't anywhere near where they are now,” Claxton said. “What was that? The first or second game we all played together?” They're playing well now. So it's really a completely different team. ”
The Nets are also hoping to turn a new page.
After blowing last-minute leads against Miami and Portland and having to be more physical than they were in the first half on Friday, they got more physical and outscored the Lakers 68-44 after the break, the most in any game so far. This tied the record for the fewest goals conceded. Late season.
“It feels good. I think we really know what we're capable of. I think we showed it. The last game against Portland shocked a lot of our hearts. We came in with a little more fight, a little more grit, and an edge,” Lonnie Walker IV said. “We know what we're capable of, so it can be really frustrating when we don't live up to that ability sometimes. And that starts with just being responsible and holding each other accountable.” .
“Personally, once you prove that you can do one thing, you want to see it every game and show consistency. …I’m happy. [Friday’s] win. Now I just have to keep accumulating. ”
