MIAMI — The Nets had their chances to close out Game 4 on their home court Monday night, missing their final seven shots — including several that would have given them the lead — before eventually losing 102-96 to the Heat, as Miami took a 3-1 series lead and will advance to the Eastern Conference Finals with a win Wednesday night in Game 5.
But coach Jason Kidd was satisfied with the looks his team got down the stretch, including a pair of mid-range jumpers Joe Johnson had inside the final two minutes that didn’t fall.
“When you have Joe, I thought he had good looks that didn’t go down. That’s part of the game,” Kidd said. “But again, when we move the ball, guys are making plays for one another and it happens.
“Sometimes you make those shots, and sometimes the basketball can be unfriendly and it doesn’t go in for you. But the guys fought and gave us a chance to win a tough game.”
The Nets didn’t take advantage of that chance, though, and now find themselves faced with the daunting task of not only having to win the final three games of this series, including two on the road, but also having to recover from the emotional toll of dropping such a hard-fought game.
Kidd, however, said his players will be ready when they take the floor inside American Airlines Arena Wednesday.
“We understand what’s at stake,” he said. “It’s Game 7 for us. Lose, and it’s over. Win, and we fight another day.
“We can only just focus on Game 5, and one quarter at a time.”
Kidd was also asked about whether or not Johnson’s left hand will be an issue after he had it examined during the third quarter of Game 4 and later had ice on. He said it won’t be an issue for Game 5.
“He’ll be fine,” Kidd said. “He’s sore, but he’s a competitor, so he’ll be fine.”