Nets Blasted by Celtics for 9th Straight Loss, Knicks Also Stumble Again
CELTICS 126 – NETS 91
The season really is coming apart at the seams for the Brooklyn Nets. A ninth straight loss, and another game without any member of the “Big Three” on the court for Brooklyn produced a lopsided 126-91 loss to the Boston Celtics, Tuesday night. At 29-25 the Nets have sunk like a stone, are the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference.
Were the postseason to start today, the Nets would be hosting a one-game, win-and-your-in playoff against the Charlotte Hornets.
Since Durant went on the injury list with a MCL sprain, Brooklyn has lost 10 of its last 12. It hasn’t helped that James Harden, the subject of many trade rumors was out with a knee injury. Kyrie Irving still can’t play home games unless he is vaccinated against COVID-19.
All of this was prologue to a 28-2 deficit the Nets faced in the first quarter against Boston. The Nets didn’t score their second bucket of the game until there was 3:46 to go in the opening quarter. Brooklyn was 1-for-15 from the floor during the opening stretch, and wound up shooting only 37 percent from the field for the entire game.
NETS LOSING 28-2 TO CELTICS. 😱😱😱 pic.twitter.com/H4sANrxBnF
— House of Highlights (@HoHighlights) February 9, 2022
😳😳😳 pic.twitter.com/IAOoyIJZ1d
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) February 9, 2022
Meanwhile, the struggles continue for the New York Knicks who were blown out on the road at Denver, 132-115.
Denver had back-to-back quarters of scoring 40-plus, and carried an 83-60 lead into halftime. The Knicks got as close as 13-points with 6:31 to go in the game when Obi Toppin made a 23-foot three pointer, but Nikola Jokic nailed a jump-shot and a pair of free throws to push the lead back out to 17-points, all but ending any hope of a late Knicks rally.
New York is now 24-31 on the year. They have lost four in a row and 10 of their last 12. It won’t get easier on Thursday when they square off with the NBA’s best team: the Golden State Warriors.
This is some kind of proud basketball night in New York City. #Nets fall behind the Celtics 28-2. #Knicks give up 83 — !!! — first-half points to the Nuggets. I think we all need to turn our lonely eyes to the Johnnies now.
— Mike Vaccaro (@MikeVacc) February 9, 2022