Inside The Nets

The Nets Get Blown Out by the Philadelphia 76ers, 121-99

In a disappointing turn of events, the Nets faced their worst defeat of the season, succumbing to a 121-99 blowout at the hands of the Philadelphia 76ers.

Peter Sunjic

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After losing to the Miami Heat just two days ago, most fans expected their team to perform better against the Philadelphia 76ers. That was not the case as the Brooklyn Nets are now under .500 again after getting blown out by the 76ers.

In an early Sunday game against the Sixers, the team quickly found themselves in a substantial first-quarter deficit, trailing 17-7 early on. Throughout the game, the Nets grappled with challenges ranging from turnovers to questionable shot selection. Despite a recovery that saw them secure a 42-38 lead, Brooklyn's offense eventually hit a wall.

“Yeah, we're still not there, and that's definitely a work-in-progress for us to understand teams are doing different things at the end of the quarter to disrupt you,” Head coach Jacque Vaughn said in his post-game presser. “We'll continue to work on it and get better, but you see how those momentum plays make a difference, especially at the end of quarters.”

Mikal Bridges and Lonnie Walker IV were the bright spots

The Nets did not eclipse the 100-point mark but they did have some standout performances from Lonnie Walker IV and Mikal Bridges. 

The latter performed well in the first half as he was keeping the Nets afloat, scoring 16 of his 18 points in the first 24 minutes. He cooled down in the second half, scoring only two more points but everyone on the court was ice-cold for the Nets.

The only exception to that was Walker who led the Nets in scoring with 26 points. He had a standout play during the first half when he essentially dunked over the "entire" 76ers lineup including notable shot blockers in Robert Covington and Joel Embiid.

The 76ers dominated on offense

Despite the Nets having skilled defenders on their roster, two of them, Ben Simmons and Dennis Smith Jr., were sidelined due to injuries. They were expected to provide a strong matchup against Tyrese Maxey, who scored 25 points, and De’Anthony Melton, who contributed 21 points.

The two Sixers guards were superb in their contributions but the standout was the reigning MVP Embiid who had a 32-point, 12-rebound, and nine-assist performance.

The Nets have to be strong on defense as that is their strongest suit. They have Nic Claxton and Mikal Bridges to be elite defenders and it gets even better with Simmons and Smith. Coach Jacque Vaughn needs his team to be more adept at physicality because they were overpowered by Embiid in this game.

Brooklyn looks to get back on track with a game on the road against the Atlanta Hawks on Wednesday, November 22 at StateFarm Arena.

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Peter Sunjic
PETER SUNJIC

Peter's journey with basketball commenced in the first grade, and it has since evolved into an integral part of his life. Standing on the brink of a potential professional playing career, Peter ultimately chose to pursue a degree in Political Science and Journalism in Zagreb, Croatia. Despite this academic pursuit, his deep-rooted love for the game of basketball endured, undiminished. Now, as a writer and editor, Peter finds an avenue to channel his unwavering passion for basketball-related news and analysis. Whether it's deciphering the latest happenings or delving into the lore of old-school basketball, he covers every corner of the NBA world.

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