Upcoming Matchups and Nets’ Struggles
This Saturday, a highly anticipated game between Kansas’ Darin Peterson and BYU’s AJ Divanza will unfold at Allen Fieldhouse. It’s particularly notable, as both players are projected to be the top two draft picks in the 2026 draft. Looking ahead to next week, Duke’s Cameron Boozer will compete against Caleb Wilson from the University of North Carolina, with both expected to be top-four picks.
For the Nets, this season feels… well, a bit bleak, honestly. Just three weeks ago, Brooklyn was hovering just a game away from a crucial play-in spot in the Eastern Conference, throwing a wrench into the front office’s apparent plans to tank again. They had a stunning 10-game winning streak that included impressive victories over teams like Toronto and Philadelphia.
Fast forward to now, and the Nets (12-32) have been on a downward spiral, losing 13 of their last 15 games. It’s concerning—they’re just two games ahead of the Wizards, who sit at the bottom of the league. Once again, Brooklyn seems to be heading toward the draft lottery, with any semblance of respectability slipping away.
Currently, only the Wizards and Indiana have fewer wins. The Nets have struggled significantly this month, with six losses by margins of 16 points or more. It appears they might be venturing into… one of the darkest periods in their recent history.
A five-game losing streak kicked off with a disappointing 22-point defeat against the Bulls, but it was the shame of a 120-66 loss to the Knicks that really stung—it stands as one of the most embarrassing defeats in franchise history. Most recently, they lost to the Clippers, 126-89. Coach Jordi Fernandez, rather bluntly, referred to the performance as “losing” for much of the game, which doesn’t instill much confidence, to be honest.
Fernandez emphasized the need for focus, saying, “We need to decide what we want to be. It starts with everyone’s focus and effort.” It’s really about knowing what you’re doing on the court, which feels crucial right now.
In December, the Nets were lauded for having the league’s best defense. But, after 14 games this month, their defensive rating plummeted to 29th. Offensively, they’re now last in points per game with a measly 104.3 and the lowest field goal percentage at 42.8%. Rebounding? They’ve ranked 28th. It’s just not looking good.
On Tuesday, the Nets will face Phoenix (27-19) in the second of a five-game series against them. The Suns have recently struggled too, losing two games in a row, and will be without their star guard, Devin Booker. Last week’s match saw the Suns defeat the Nets after they blew a significant lead in the first quarter.
The losing streak for Brooklyn truly began with a 19-point deficit against Chicago in the first quarter. They trailed the Knicks by 18 points and recorded a season-low of 14 points against the Clippers, just a string of tough games ahead.
As Fernandez put it, “It starts with responsibility.” They need to move forward, learn, and hold each other accountable. That seems like the best way, really—if they can find a way to make it work.
