The Nets were short six of their seven best players against the Boston Celtics and, to no one’s surprise, they played like it.
Brooklyn had an injury list that could compete for an NBA championship: Kevin Durant (sprained MCL), Kyrie Irving (ineligible for home games), Joe Harris (ankle surgery), LaMarcus Aldridge (ankle sprain) and Nic Claxton (left hamstring tightness) were already expected to miss Tuesday night’s matchup before the Nets scratched James Harden (left hamstring tightness) in the early afternoon.
The result was a Nets team that was clearly and thoroughly outmatched by the Celtics’ stars. Brooklyn didn’t bring nearly enough effort to close the talent gap in an embarrassing 126-91 finish on their home floor.
And to think 17,732 hard-working fans paid good money for seats to this game.
The Nets have now lost nine games in a row, and if Harden isn’t playing on Thursday in the nation’s capital against the Washington Wizards, the Nets are in danger of losing 10 straight. And if they lose 10, you might as well call it 11, because there’s no way the Nets are beating the No. 1-seeded Miami Heat two games from now, especially if Harden isn’t playing then, either.
Which begs the question: Just when are the Nets expected to win another game?
Durant is out at least until after the Feb. 20 NBA All-Star break, but Harden’s return appears tethered to Thursday’s NBA trade deadline. If he returns to the rotation after the trade cut-off, the Nets could potentially snap the skid on Feb. 14 against the Sacramento Kings – or the following game at Madison Square Garden against the Knicks right before the All-Star break.
New York City’s COVID-19 vaccine mandate also prevents Irving from playing at The Garden, and the Knicks will give the Nets a run for their money, no matter how far down the standings they are.
Those games against the Kings and Knicks, however, are winnable if Harden is on the floor.
The Beard’s value was on display in a game he watched in all-black from the sidelines: Had Harden been on the floor against the Celtics, the Nets would have been – at minimum – competitive. He elevates the level of all players on the floor, even if he can be turnover-prone; even if he’s not yet reached his tip-top form.
Harden, however, didn’t step onto the floor on Tuesday, and the Nets trotted out a starting lineup of Patty Mills, Bruce Brown, rookie Kessler Edwards, DeAndre Bembry and Blake Griffin. Against Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Celtics stars, now coached by former Nets lead assistant Ime Udoka, this was a no-contest. None of Brooklyn’s starters scored more than six points.
The Celtics ran up a 14-0 lead to open the game and extended their advantage to a 28-2 before the Nets fought back. The only signs of life came from backup point guard James Johnson and third-string guard Jevon Carter, who made Brooklyn’s outing a bit less of an embarrassment and only slightly more respectable.
Johnson and Carter combined for 38 points, and Carter hit a season-high seven threes on 13 attempts for his 21 points on the night. It was a revelation for the reserve guard who hasn’t been able to connect from deep when the Nets stars are on the floor with him. Rookie guard Cam Thomas also scored 15 off the bench, and undrafted rookie David Duke Jr. also scored 13 points and recorded four steals.
It was a valiant effort from the Nets’ reserve unit, but it was hardly enough to elevate Brooklyn to a win when Tatum, Brown and Marcus Smart combined for 67 points through the first three quarters before resting the entire fourth period.
There’s no telling when the Nets win their next game. They could get lucky in DC, especially if both Harden and Irving play, but Nash was noncommittal about Harden’s availability against the Wizards on Thursday.
“I think it’s premature (to rule Harden in or out for the game against the Wizards), but I also have no idea how the strength tests are (and) what his level is right now,” Nash said. “We’re just trying to get him stronger, get him back to a place where he feels confident, (and the performance team) feels confident that he can go back out there and explode and be ready to go.”
