The past two games featured slow starts before the Nets
displayed standout execution in the fourth quarter. They
hope to get off to a quicker start Wednesday night when
they host the struggling Golden State Warriors.
Brooklyn's average margin of victory during its streak
is 5.2 points, with the largest margin of victory coming
in a 112-100 road win over the Washington Wizards on
Dec. 12. The Nets are returning home after consecutive
three-point wins in Toronto and Detroit that featured
comebacks from double-digit deficits capped by dramatic
finishes down the stretch.
"It's a big challenge for us, so I think we've gotta
raise our level of play," Brooklyn forward Royce O'Neale
said of facing top competition. "The way we've been
playing sometimes, (we) can't come out with lack of
energy."
In a 119-116 win over the Raptors on Friday, the Nets
faced an 18-point deficit late in the second quarter and
were down by 10 at halftime. Brooklyn shot 70 percent in
the fourth quarter and got the win on Kyrie Irving's
3-pointer at the buzzer.
Two nights later against the Pistons, the Nets rallied
from a 19-point, first-half deficit for a 124-121
victory. Brooklyn shot nearly 60 percent while
outscoring Detroit 70-50 in the second half.
The common denominators in both comeback wins were
standout performances from Kevin Durant and Irving. On
Sunday, Durant has scored 26 of his 43 points in the
third before Irving scored 14 of his 38 in the fourth.
Irving collected 15 of his 32 points on Friday in the
final period.
After surviving their slow starts, the Nets are 12-5 in
games decided by single digits, including a 7-2 mark in
games decided by five points or fewer.
"Definitely has to be an increased level of focus and
readiness," Brooklyn coach Jacque Vaughn said. "You
don't want to go into a game and dig yourself into a
hole like we had the last two games ... because you
might not be digging your way out of those."
Golden State is set to play its fourth game since losing
Stephen Curry to a left shoulder subluxation in a
125-119 loss at the Indiana Pacers a week ago. After
splitting games in Philadelphia and Toronto, the
Warriors absorbed a wire-to-wire, 132-94 loss to the
host New York Knicks on Tuesday.
The ugly defeat dropped Golden State to a league-worst
3-15 away from home. It was the Warriors' sixth defeat
in the past eight games.
"We stank tonight," Golden State coach Steve Kerr said
after his team allowed at least 130 points for the
fourth time. "We're trying to hang in there -- and we
will. Another game (Wednesday)."
Jordan Poole, who led the Warriors with 26 points, is
averaging 32.7 points in the three games since Curry was
injured. Poole likely will be tasked with being Golden
State's top option since Klay Thompson will sit out
after the second half of a back-to-back set due to
injury management and Andrew Wiggins will miss his ninth
straight game because of a groin injury.
Golden State is 10-3 in its past 13 meetings with
Brooklyn.
--Field Level Media
