SACRAMENTO – In their three previous games, the Nets surrendered 111, 120 and 116 points.
So there had to be some consolation in holding the Kings to 97.
Oh, wait. The fourth quarter counted, too?
In a defensive display that conjured up the worst nightmares of the Nets often tortured past, they gave up a season-high in points, a season-high in 3-pointers made and gave maybe a season-low effort on defense.
When the carnage finally subsided, the Nets had been butt-kicked 128-94 by the Kings, who dealt them their sixth straight loss and seventh in eight.
“A pathetic performance,” muttered coach Lawrence Frank. “We gave up their season-high points. They shot high 50s from the field, 60 percent from three. Our inability to contain the dribble, an inability to close out the shooters. Then they got hustle plays, second opportunities.”
Other than that, the Nets (18-23) were just swell.
“It’s unheard of, unacceptable to give up 128 points in a game,” Frank said.
It started early and never let up. The Kings, who swept the two-game season series, had seven players in double figures by the end of the third quarter, when they led, 97-73. Yup, the Kings could have gone home after three quarters and still won.
And the Nets, who equaled their season-worst away from .500 of five games (10-15), probably would have still given up a 3-pointer. To a ref. Or a fan.
“It is embarrassing. Any time you get beat like that, you can’t walk off with your head up,” said Bostjan Nachbar.
The Kings, who had Ron Artest (27 points), Kevin Martin (19) and Mike Bibby (15) start together for the first time this season, began hammering the Nets from the outset. The Kings, who shot .575 overall, including a ridiculous 15-of-24 (.625) on 3-pointers, slammed in five trifectas in the first quarter, when they raced to a 36-25 lead, the 36 points being a high quarter yield by the Nets, who contributed to their demise with seven turnovers in the period.
“We didn’t take care of the ball in that first quarter, that put us in a hole,” said Jason Kidd (13 points, five assists, two rebounds – his first assist did not come until 1:17 remained in the half).
The Nets made a mild second-quarter run and cut it to six – for the Kings answered back with a pair of treys by Francisco Garcia and a Bibby score.
“We cut it to six and then they kept scoring,” Kidd said.
Don’t you hate it when that happens? The Nets, down 64-47 at halftime (64 represented the most points they surrendered in a half) never got closer than 13 in the second half.
Vince Carter, who was as aggressive offensively as he has been in weeks, scored 21 for the Nets, and Richard Jefferson, who started very slowly (1-of-6) scored 18. Carter earlier in the day said that he, Kidd and Jefferson needed to step to the forefront, be the engine that would pull the team out of its slide.
“I think it’s up to the – quote, unquote – ‘Big Three’ to really take it to another level,” Carter said. “Hopefully everybody else follows along and it becomes contagious and we get back to the level where we were playing.
“Everybody has to contribute, it’s not just the Big Three. We have to start the train, but everybody is going to have to step in and play a key role.”
Carter lived up to his contention early. He put in 14 first-half points and passed for five assists, having more trouble with fouls (three) than the Kings’ defense. But defensively, everyone struggled – even Kidd, who had trouble against both Bibby (15 points by halftime) and Beno Udrih, who twice drove by with no resistance.
Kings 128 Nets 94