The Nets looked across the court at Oklahoma City, a team they are trying to emulate in a rebuild.
Brooklyn, which failed offensively in a 105-86 loss to the Thunder on Friday before 18,203 at the Paycom Center, got a harsh reminder of how far it has come.
Trailing the reigning NBA champions, the Nets shot just 36.7 percent, and 7 of 41 from three-point range. They showed more fight than yesterday in Cleveland. They didn’t roll over; they just couldn’t buy a jumper, or hold on to a football.
They had 21 turnovers, including a dozen in a 21-3 Thunder run.
Brooklyn (15-40) moved up the lottery rankings, now alone in fourth place. The Nets pulled a game ahead of the fifth-place Wizards, who have won two straight against the equally tanking Pacers.
They are now just a game away from second place, a goal between Indiana and New Orleans.
The Thunder were without reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (abdominal strain), along with Jalen Williams and Ajay Mitchell. That didn’t stop them from going 43-14 in the league, never mind the Nets.
Michael Porter Jr. He had a career-high 22 points, nine rebounds and five assists for the Nets. But in back-to-back games — something he hadn’t done in their last six such games — he shot just 1-of-9 from 3-point range.
Lottery pick Egor Dëmin — the Nets’ first Rising Stars participant since 2019 — appears to be hitting a rookie wall. He had just three points, shooting 1-of-10 from the floor and 1-of-8 from deep. Teammate Nolan Traore scored 17 points.
Brooklyn hired former amateur scouting director Acie Law in Oklahoma City to be director of player personnel, and will look to pattern their rebuilding after the Thunder. But Friday showed how far they have to go.
The Nets took a 23-17 lead after freshman Ochai Agbaji hit a 3-pointer with 2:26 left in the first quarter when their offense went cold.
Brooklyn conceded a 21-3 run over the last 9½ minutes. They missed 11 straight shots – 0-for-8 from deep – and committed 12 turnovers to fall behind 38-26 on Chet Holmgren’s free throws.
When Porter found center Day’Ron Sharpe (12 points, eight rebounds, two steals in place of the injured Nic Claxton) inside to stop the bleeding with 3:30 left in halftime, the game was over.
The deficit grew to 55-35 early in the third.
Unlike yesterday against the Cavs, this time at least the Nets tried to show some fight. Down 71-54, they went on a 9-0 blitz in just 1:25.
Porter got a couple of good things, Jalen Wilson’s 3-pointer and then Danny Wolf for a rally that got within 71-63. But that’s as close as it gets.
Jared McCain had 21 championship shortstops.
