The Nets extended their lost streak to five games and fell 127-113 at San Antonio on Tuesday night.
Cam Thomas led the net with 24 points and six assists.
Cam Johnson scored 17, while Trendern Watford added 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals from the bench. It is the first double double of the season, second in the net.
But none of them could overcome a sieve-like defense.
Although there was no need to face an injured Victor Wenbanyama, the net allowed 55.3% of the fire.
San Antonio's Devin Vassel lit up them for a game-high 37 points and 10 rebounds.
He hit eight three pointers.
“Our defense wasn't enough, and that's what we have to accept now,” Jordi Fernandez told reporters after seeing his net hand over 62 points in the paint and allowing Vassel to shoot the 19-14 14th.
The net was at an impressive distance before allowing a 26-8 Spurs run midway through the third quarter.
Stephon Castle's Dunk was garbage time the rest of the night after leaving 95-70 with 1:46 left in the period.
“[Vassell] Just play simple basketball. And obviously it wasn't fun to see me,” Fernandez said. “We're getting better, we'll get him off the 3-point line, dribble him more, maybe we'll put him in trouble. But we couldn't do that. And once again, our defense has to be challenged. We have to get better.”
The Net (21-40) kept a 2¹/2 game behind Chicago for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
They also remained tied up with Philadelphia for the 6th best odds in the lottery, with both the bull and the 76ers falling on Tuesday.
Net placed fifth in the 1¹/2 game in lottery odds after the Raptors' victory.
Dangelo Russell (ankles) and Darik White Head (Knee) I've returned from an injury.
Russell finished with a start with 12 points and four assists.
De'anthony Melton (Torn ACL) and Noah Clowney (ankle) were both.
The two-way Tosan Evbuomwan was with G League Long Island.
Wenbanyama was out for Spurs Charles Bassey (knee) and Riley Minix (left shoulder). Stefon Castle (thumb) was listed as suspicious, but scored 17 points from the bench.
Net signed a two-way contract with Guard Tyson Etienne from G League affiliate Long Island on Tuesday.
In a corresponding move, they abandoned the two-way forward Kendall Brown.
The call-up is the fifth in the net of the season and the first of the 6-foot-2 Etienne.
The native of Englewood, New Jersey, is one of the best shooting games in the G League and will earn a chance at the NBA level.
Etienne averaged 20.0 points on .506% shooting in Long Island's 25 start and hit .475 from the deep.
He currently leads the G League with 3-pointers (84), eighth in a 3-point percentage.
Point Guard Killian Hayes I started five previous games for Brooklyn during my 10-day contract, but none of the 10-day 10 days.
It is unclear whether the 23-year-old will return to Long Island.
