The Pistons set a lure. The Nets acquired caught.
After a four-point loss to the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday, the Nets dropped their sixth recreation within the eight they’ve performed since Kevin Durant sustained an MCL sprain.
They misplaced to a Detroit Pistons workforce with the worst document within the Jap Convention, 130-122.
The loss to the 76ers with Joel Embiid, James Harden, Tyrese Maxey and Tobias Harris all wholesome was comprehensible. Shedding to the Pistons with out star guard Cade Cunningham, beginning large man Marvin Bagley III and backup level guard Cory Joseph — at dwelling — was embarrassing.
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 40 factors on 14-of-27 capturing from the sector, however the Nets struggled in opposition to the scale of a Pistons workforce recognized for its physicality. Every of Detroit’s starters, aside from rookie Jaden Ivey, are 6-foot-5 or taller. The Pistons are a workforce recognized to hit their opponents first. Head coach Jacque Vaughn remains to be attempting to get his workforce to grasp they should be the aggressors.
Seven totally different Pistons gamers scored in double figures, led by Saddiq Bey — the participant who was drafted in 2020 with the choose Brooklyn traded to Detroit within the deal that finally landed the Nets Landry Shamet. Bey scored 25 factors, hit 5 threes and grabbed 9 rebounds. Alec Burks added 20 and rookie Jaden Ivey scored 12 of his 16 factors within the first quarter alone.
Nic Claxton posted 27 factors and 13 rebounds, and Edmond Sumner scored 24 off the bench. No different Nets scorers touched double figures. Royce O’Neale shot one-of-seven from the sector, T.J. Warren shot one-of-five, Joe Harris shot three-of-nine and Ben Simmons left within the third quarter with left knee soreness. He completed 0-of-3 from the sector and had seven assists in 20 minutes earlier than testing.
The Nets have a possibility to bounce again in opposition to the Knicks on Saturday. They face the league-best Boston Celtics on Monday.
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