Inside The Nets

Brooklyn falls apart in the fourth quarter in a 104-110 loss to Washington

The Nets played well for most of the game but were a dud in the final 12 minutes.
Peter Sunjic|
Brooklyn falls apart in the fourth quarter in a 104-110 loss to Washington
Brooklyn falls apart in the fourth quarter in a 104-110 loss to Washington

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Brooklyn NetsWashington Wizards

Coach Jacque Vaughn adjusted the Nets' starting lineup against the Washington Wizards. It was working out well, but they fell apart in the fourth quarter as their offense slowed to a crawl.

Washington took advantage of this en route to getting a 104-110 win on the back of good performances from Kyle Kuzma and Deni Avdija. The former Los Angeles Lakers forward scored a game-high 26 points, while Deni had a well-rounded stat line of 21 points, 13 rebounds, and six assists.

“That problem will arise again. Just because you start doesn't mean you're gonna finish, just because you finish doesn't make you a non-starter,” Vaughn told the media after the loss. “We had multiple guys out on the floor in that fourth quarter to try to give us some ability to score and stop them. We just couldn't get stops, and a lot of it was man-to-man. Being able to guard the dude in front of you.”

The Nets had a decent performance

Brooklyn played well for the first three quarters as they held a slim 86-84 lead heading to the final 12 minutes. However, the fourth quarter did not work out for the Nets. They struggled to make shots, scoring only 18 points compared to the Wizards’ 26.

Despite the loss, it was a well-rounded performance from the Nets, as they had six players in double-figures. Mikal Bridges led them with 19 points, and Spencer Dinwiddie chipped in with 17 of his own.

The only starter who did not score in double-digits was Dorian Finney-Smith with only four points. The 6’8” forward is the recent addition to the starting lineup, replacing Cameron Thomas to help boost their defense in the first few minutes of the contest.

Coach Vaughn will have to make more adjustments

This should be an alarming result for Coach Vaughn because Brooklyn is now down to a 15-17 record. Heading into the game, the Wizards only had five wins. Losing to a significantly worse team should motivate the Nets in future games.

Mikal rounding back to form, and the center rotation of Nic Claxton and Day’Ron Sharpe performing well are encouraging signs, however, they are losing winnable games. The close defeat to the Golden State Warriors and this loss to Washington should lead to bigger adjustments going forward.

The Nets continue their four-game road trip on New Year’s Eve as they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. That will be a tough game for Brooklyn, but it’s an opportunity to get back on track.

Jacque Vaughn gives the reasoning behind sitting most of his starters

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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