The Nets had no answers in Wednesday’s 59-point loss to the Clippers, but Friday’s matchup against the Lakers played out much differently with a healthy D’Angelo Russell in the fold, even with Cam Johnson still sidelined because of a right ankle sprain.
A game that featured 11 ties and 22 lead changes came down to the final minutes of regulation.
Russell, facing the Lakers for the first time since last month’s trade, was sharp off the bench and kept the Nets in striking distance throughout the night. Two-way forward Tosan Evbuomwan, who finished with 15 points on 6-for-10 shooting with six rebounds, was playing out of his mind. And a Noah Clowney 3-pointer pulled Brooklyn within one point with 37.2 seconds left.
Austin Reaves’ short-armed a 7-footer on the Lakers’ ensuing possession. With 20.9 seconds left, the Nets had a chance to steal one on the road, two nights after getting embarrassed in Inglewood.
Russell had the hot hand, this was a revenge game for him, so of course he had to take the final shot. He waived off his teammates, sized up Max Christie, and went to work. He took one hard dribble left, snatched the ball back between his legs going right, then pulled up for a lefty trey with the game clock winding down.
But it wasn’t to be. Russell misfired. LeBron James secured the game-winning rebound and ran the clock out. The Nets fell 102-101 at Crypto.com Arena despite an inspired effort from Russell, Evbuomwan, and really the team as a whole
I’m going to let these guys with experience take the shot,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said of Russell’s go-ahead attempt. “That was a shot that I’ve seen him make a lot of times.”
Austin Reaves led the Lakers with 38 points in 37 minutes. James added 29 points, seven rebounds and eight assists. Anthony Davis was inactive Friday night.
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