It was a little more than three weeks ago when the Nets took down the Knicks in the first matchup between the now intra-city rivals and took over the top spot in the Atlantic Division.
Given the way the two teams have played since, it feels like it might as well be three years.
The Nets have fallen apart recently, dropping seven of their last nine games after yet another third-quarter collapse last night saw them finish on the wrong end of a 92-90 decision against the Jazz in front of 15,835 at Barclays Center.
They now enter tonight’s game against the Knicks with a 13-11 record, and sit five games behind the Knicks in the division.
“I think that kind of game should bring out the best in us,” said Kris Humphries, who finished with eight points and 11 rebounds. “Although it’s on a back-to-back, we shouldn’t have a problem getting up and getting energized to go compete [tonight].”
It’s almost become expected early in this inaugural season in Brooklyn for the Nets to storm out to an early double-digit lead in the first half, only to see it slowly slip away in the third quarter and lead to a frantic finish in the fourth.
And, right on cue, that’s exactly what happened against the Jazz.
After holding a 57-44 halftime lead, the Nets combined to go 6-for-17 from the field and commit seven turnovers that led to nine Utah points, quickly turning the game from one they had control over to yet another tense, back-and-forth affair.
“I don’t know,” said Deron Williams, who finished with 14 points and five assists. “We even talked about it [at halftime]. We’ve talked about it a lot that we’ve got to come out and have a good third quarter.
“We have to come out and protect the ball and it’s like we come out and do the opposite.”
That third quarter gave the Jazz, who trailed for the vast majority of the game, a chance to steal one at the end. After Mo Williams pulled up and hit a long 3-pointer in transition to give Utah an 82-80 lead — the visitors’ first since the early stages of the second quarter — with 5:42 remaining, former Net Derrick Favors stoned Brook Lopez with a huge block on a potential game-tying dunk, then banked in a runner over Humphries that gave the Jazz an 84-80 lead.
From there, the Nets had their chances, but never could get the lead any closer than two points.
The one chance the Nets did have to either tie or take the lead came after Mo Williams missed a 3-pointer and the Nets corralled the rebound with 2:06 remaining. Deron Williams then brought the ball up and tried to post up Mo Williams, only to be called for a questionable offensive foul that gave the ball back to Utah.
“Yeah,” Williams said when asked if it was a tough call. “Especially because I didn’t think it was enough to be a charge.”
It looked like the Nets had lost any chance to win the game when they trailed by four with 31.6 seconds left and Utah with possession, but the Jazz turned the ball over twice in the final 30 seconds to give the Nets a chance to get back into the game. The second turnover came with 9.9 seconds remaining and the Nets trailing 92-90, when the Nets trapped Al Jefferson at midcourt and Joe Johnson, who finished with a game-high 21 points, stole the ball from him.
However, Gerald Wallace’s wide-open 3-pointer missed to the left, Reggie Evans missed a potential game-tying putback at the buzzer and the Nets found themselves with yet another excruciating loss heading into tonight’s showdown with the Knicks.
“The guys are upset, and it’s got to hurt a little bit deeper because we can’t keep giving up double-digit leads like this,” Nets coach Avery Johnson said.
“[The Knicks] came on our home court and got a win, so this would be a great opportunity for us to go play well and try to win a game.”