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Nets fought and then the fourth quarter happened: 105-95

By Anthony Puccio
Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

Will we EVER get to see the Nets win three games in a row this season?

They had a chance to do it for the first time in game 60, but failed and came up short against the Clippers, 105-95, Monday night in Los Angeles. The loss doesn't sting as much because the Nets and Clippers swap 2nd-round picks if the Clips don't finish in the top-5 in the NBA this season, who were a game short of the fifth spot prior to Monday.

They're now 6-21 on the road this season with four left before they return back to Brooklyn.

The Nets played like a team full of players auditioning for jobs next season. That IS what this team is made up of, anyway. This is what the final 22 games will be like and I'm definitely not complaining. Somebody mentioned before the season that Brooklyn would at least enjoy watching a team that fights and has fun. Well, that's what they're starting to do and it's better than how it was.

Granted they lost tonight, the team has been playing much better of late.

It started with a quiet six-point first-half from Brook Lopez, but the Nets found a way to keep this thing close. Wayne Ellington carried the team with 10 points in the half, but took a hard blow to the face from DeAndre Jordan in the third quarter and was immediately left the game to check for a concussion. He didn't return.

So, Brook Lopez took control instead. The (sorta) angry Lopez came out and scored 13 points to help push the Nets above the Clippers late in the third quarter. He finished with 25 points, 10 rebounds, four assists and two blocked shots.

The Nets scored 33 points in the third quarter, but the Clips outscored them 24-16 in the fourth.

Jamal Crawford ended the third quarter with a nice buzzer beater and carried the momentum right over into the fourth.

This is when things changed.

He scored 10 points in the fourth quarter and 26 total on 10-of-17 shooting for the night. Lopez, meanwhile, scored six points in the fourth quarter... which probably won't cut it with this team.

Still, you can't get too frustrated with the effort from the young guys. They fought through three quarters and for that alone they get a pat on the back.

Tip ins:

Bojan Bogdanovic scored 19 points on 5-of-12 shooting while his backup Markel Brown chipped  in eight off the bench. For Los Angeles, Chris Paul had a nice night with 23 points and 12 assists and J.J. Redick put home 19 on 3-of-5 three-point shooting.

Brook Lopez, Thaddeus Young and Thomas Robinson are the first Nets' trio to record 10+ boards in the same game since the 2012-13 season.

Next up: Tuesday, 10:30 at Los Los Angeles.

For more on the Los Angeles Clippers: Clips Nation.

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