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Nets choke in final minute as Grizzlies hand them fifth straight loss, 131-125 (2OT)

By Anthony Puccio and Net Income
NBA: Memphis Grizzlies at Brooklyn Nets Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — Oh you thought it was already bad? It got even worse on Friday.

It looked like the Nets (8-15) might snap a four-game losing streak to the Grizzlies (13-8) following an offensive outburst in the fourth quarter, but yet another late collapse — really late — gave them their fifth straight loss and their ninth loss in the last 11 games, 131-125, at Barclays Center Friday night.

The Nets led by seven with 52 seconds left following a Spencer Dinwiddie 3-pointer. He scored 11 of Brooklyn’s final 15 points and all looked good. The seven-point lead turned into a three-point lead as Brooklyn had possession with 23 seconds left. They were still safe, right? Wrong.

They somehow managed to turn the ball over on an inbound play and Jaren Jackson Jr. nailed the game-tying three that sent this one to overtime. The 19-year-old finished the night with 36 points and eight rebounds.

In the FIRST overtime, the Nets had a two-point lead with 35 seconds and possession. Dinwiddie missed on a drive with 17 seconds left and Memphis had a chance. Mike Conley then tied the game at 117 apiece, 10 seconds left.

What’d the Nets do? Turn the ball over, Memphis ball. Luckily for Brooklyn, Conley missed on a step-back jumper.

In the SECOND overtime, D’Angelo Russell scored eight straight points but it wasn’t enough. He had a chance to take the lead but his shot rimmed in and out. Conley answered with a layup on the other end and the Nets never scored the rest of the way.

Conley led all scorers on the night with 37 points and 10 assists. He scored 13 points in the second overtime that ultimately won it for Memphis.

“He’s tough, he’s proven in this league and capable of doing this day in and day out. Just [tried] to find a way to contain him,” said Russell after the game.

Dinwiddie, who started for the first time this season, finished with 15 points — 11 coming in the fourth. Russell finished with 26 points and eight assists but turned the ball over seven times. Six came in the first 16 minutes.

DeMarre Carroll matched a career-high when coming off the bench with 21 points and 12 rebounds on 7-of-8 shooting. Napier, meanwhile, finished with 18 points and six rebounds.

The Nets shot 44.7 percent overall and hit 16-of-44 (36.4 percent) from three. They turned the ball over 19 times compared to Memphis’ 17.

Marc Gasol finished with 15 points and 15 rebounds — the 15th time an opposing center has dropped a double double against the Nets.

“That’s a tough loss ... we’re not having a party (in the locker room) ... we’re upset, but we have to bounce back tomorrow,” said Kenny Atkinson.

“Sometimes like tonight, we make dumb plays,” added Dinwiddie.

How’d they get there?

The Nets were without two starters, Caris LeVert and Joe Harris, facing one of the top teams in the West who had lost three straight. The game was close throughout, then things got serious in the fourth.

The Grizzlies took an 87-80 lead early in the fourth after the two teams were tied at half. However, behind a career night (off the bench) from Carroll, the Nets answered with a 14-0 run — 18-3 extended — and led 98-90 with under six minutes remaining.

But it wasn’t enough. Nothing ever seems like enough with this team.

They’ll have a chance to redeem themselves tomorrow at Washington. They’re 0-5 in the second night of back-to-backs.

“Missed opportunity, but we’ve got another game tomorrow night,” said Atkinson. “We’ve got a resilient group. It’s the good thing about having a young group. They’ll bounce back.”

WHAT ARE THE ODDS???

That a team up by seven with 33 seconds to go would lose the game? Someone actually calculated it and tweeted it. 300-1.

LOOKING FOR POSITIVES

Six Nets finished with 15 or more points. That’s the most since 1999. The six were D’Angelo Russell with 26; DeMarre Carroll with 21; Shabazz Napier with 18; and Spencer Dinwiddie, Jarrett Allen and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, all with 15.

Carroll’s 21 points were the most he’s scored since March 1 last season, his 12 rebounds were the most he’s grabbed since March 28 last season. Napier’s 18 points were the most he’s scored since February 27 last season.

Jarrett Allen’s latest double-double was his ninth of the season and the sixth in the last eight games.

So there.

SHOUT OUT TO ALAN WILLIAMS

Alan Williams, Brooklyn’s two-way player, was spotlighted as the G League’s player of the week. Williams is coming off a 28-point, 19-rebound game against the Greensboro Swarm. He’s averaging 22.3 points and 14.3 rebounds in eight games thus far.

8 DAYS LEFT FOR NO. 8...

A week from Saturday, December 8, will be the first day Brooklyn can extend Nets’ guard Spencer Dinwiddie. He’s eligible for a contract of four-years, $47.5 million deal. If the Nets don’t sign him by June 30, he’ll become an unrestricted free agent.

“The ball is very much in Sean Marks’ and the Nets’ court,” he told Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “Everybody knows what my extension number is: Four for $47 1/2 million. It is well documented. Can’t go above. It’s not like I’m really looking to go below. It is what it is. I’ll find out when you guys find out.”

“I would love to have an extension,” he said. “I would love to be here for a long time. If I don’t get an extension, then I’ll be looking forward to unrestricted free agency.”

Dinwiddie is an early candidate for sixth man of the year. Among reserves in the NBA, he’s first in assists, second in points and second in field goals made.

DINWIDDIE’S KICKS

MEMPHIS SIGNS NOAH

The Grizzlies signed Joakim Noah on Friday to a one-year vets minimum deal, according to a report from Shams Charania. Noah was released by the Knicks in October. He signed with the Grizzlies for the veteran’s minimum.

It was the second straight Nets game where the opponent made a big move just before game time. Three days ago, the Jazz traded for Kyle Korver.

Noah, an 11-year NBA veteran, averaged 5.0 points and 8.8 rebounds in his first season with the Knicks before suffering a season-ending knee injury in February 2017. He was also suspended for 20 games in March of that same season after violating the NBA’s anti-drug policy, and had surgery on his shoulder that April.

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For a different perspective, head over to the Grizzly Bear Blues, our sister site on SB Nation.

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The Nets will face the Washington Wizards on Saturday at 7:00 p.m., a mere 20 hours after the end of Friday’s game.

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