For Jordi Fernandez, Tuesday was an opportunity to see the Denver workforce he reduce his tooth with. However for his Nets, it was an opportunity to check themselves in opposition to champions.
They got here up agonizingly brief, blowing an enormous double-digit lead and falling, 144-139, in time beyond regulation earlier than a sellout crowd of 17,926 at Barclays Middle.
The Nets (1-3) head to the tail finish of this back-to-back Wednesday night time in Memphis stinging from having squandered a 17-point cushion.
“Whenever you play in opposition to anyone that you already know and have lots of respect for, it will get higher and higher as a real competitor as a result of there’s a relationship, there’s a respect. And for me, it’s a particular recreation,” mentioned Fernandez, who spent six years as Mike Malone’s assistant in Denver.
“However it’s not about me. … Gamers win video games, gamers play basketball video games, and the remainder of my workforce, most likely for them, it’s one other rival workforce with superb gamers that we need to current a problem. We need to win the sport.”
Cam Thomas (team-high 26 factors) had the primary bucket in time beyond regulation, however the Nets conceded the subsequent eight factors and the momentum.
Nikola Jokic — who had a dominant triple-double — knotted it on free throws.
Then the Nuggets star had a put-back of his personal miss, and after Thomas acquired blocked by Christian Braun, Jokic discovered Aaron Gordon for a layup that left Brooklyn down, 131-127, with 3:09 left in time beyond regulation.
Thomas missed a jumper and Jamal Murray padded the Denver result in six. The remaining was anticlimactic.
Dennis Schroder had 28 factors and 13 assists — his most as a Internet — capturing 10-of-18 general and 5-of-11 from deep. However he was hardly alone.
With seven scorers in double figures, Brooklyn had a balanced assault.
It handed out 36 assists to only eight turnovers.
Jokic completed with 29 factors, 16 assists and 18 rebounds, whereas Gordon added 24.
“Nikola is unbelievable, and he at all times finds out the way in which to be productive,” Fernandez mentioned. “With a particular participant, you’ve acquired to point out him totally different seems to be and play that recreation, be prepared for lots of coverages. He can rating. He can help. He’s an excellent rebounder.
“It’s one of many largest challenges within the NBA as a result of he controls the entire recreation, makes his teammates higher. He’s good on each ends. And that’s actually good for our group as a result of we haven’t seen that problem but.”
The Nuggets regarded leggy, each bit the workforce enjoying the second night time of a back-to-back after an time beyond regulation.
Down 13-12 after Jokic discovered Murray for a jumper, the Nets went on an prolonged 32-14 run that spanned the primary and second quarters.
Nic Claxton’s layup off a Ziaire Williams feed capped the run and gave the Nets a 44-27 lead 1:11 into the second quarter. However it didn’t final.
Brooklyn nonetheless led 99-93 after Claxton’s midrange jumper with below a minute remaining within the third earlier than conceding a 13-2 run that spanned into the fourth.
Russell Westbrook hit a 3-pointer to place the Nuggets up, 106-101, with 9:55 left.
The Nets didn’t fold, responding with eight unanswered of their very own, capped by Westbrook lacking a dunk and Williams’ layup going the opposite approach for a 109-106 lead.
However Denver tied it at 112-all, 116-all and 118-all. And Gordon gave the Nuggets a 121-120 lead with 2:17 left.
Thomas had an ill-timed shot-clock violation however redeemed himself with a robust go-ahead drive with 1:23 to play.
And after they rebounded a Murray miss, Thomas hit a tricky turnaround in opposition to Braun for a 124-121 edge with 33 seconds to go in regulation.
Jokic scored on a put-back, and Dorian Finney-Smith made simply considered one of two free throws to go away the door cracked.
And Denver kicked it in, with Jokic getting place for a 5-foot hook shot with 8.8 seconds left in regulation.
Finney-Smith’s missed nook 3 relegated the Nets to time beyond regulation, the place they couldn’t deal with Jokic.