clock menu more-arrow no yes mobile

Filed under:

Nets' 3-point shooting becomes April Fool's joke in 105-91 loss to Knicks

By Anthony Puccio
Adam Hunger-USA TODAY Sports

The biggest April Fool's joke anybody could tell you is that the Nets-Knicks rivalry is still alive.

As a matter of fact, the only players still around from the beginning of the ‘battle of the boroughs' are Carmelo Anthony and Brook Lopez.

With both teams long out of the running for playoff contention, the only thing that's keeping this matchup somewhat relevant is the matchup of twin brothers, Robin and Brook Lopez - who squared off against each other on their April 1st birthdays.

It was a sad reality check of where both teams stand. And to make matters worse: Ben Simmons was watching in the stands, even though neither teams have a draft pick!

Things only got worse for the Nets. They lost their third straight, 105-91, to the Knicks at MSG. The teams finished the season series with a tie at two apiece, and the Nets have now lost four straight by 10 points or more.

Similar to the last few games, the Nets looked like a team with no purpose. Some of the lackadaisical play is due to the absence of Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic, but the counterargument is that Kristaps Porzingis didn't play for New York.

Things turned particularly sour for Brooklyn in the fourth quarter. Despite a pretty close game throughout, the Knicks went on an 8-0 run and took a 14-point lead. Fittingly, the Knicks extended the lead to 18 on their 14th 3-pointer of the night.

No excuses for that.

Thomas Robinson seemed to be the only Net ready for action, finishing with his third straight double-double of 14 points, 13 rebounds along with four steals. He had just two double-doubles in his first 64 games of the season.

As for Lopez, well, his mind seemed to be elsewhere, perhaps stuck on the Star Wars birthday celebration that was set to take place after the game. He finished with 16 points and eight rebounds on a poor 7-of-20 shooting.

Anthony was contained most of the night with just 13 points, but Langston Galloway stole the show with 18 points off the bench - playing most of his minutes for the injured Jose Calderon.

Langston Galloway and Derrick Williams nailed eight of New York's 14 3-pointers. The Nets, meanwhile, hit four three-pointers on 24 attempts. The Nets are 16 for their last 70 (22.8 percent) from deep.

Playing four games in five nights might have a hand in those numbers, but it's simply inexcusable.

Sean Kilpatrick chipped in 17 points off the bench but shot just 1-of-7 from deep. He's 1 for his last 23 from 3-point. Along with him, Markel Brown put home 14 points.

With six games left you gotta wonder, when will the Nets shut Brook Lopez down? If they even do...

Chris Carrino had some news early in the game...

Next up: Pelicans, Sunday at 1:00 p.m.

More From NetsDaily