Nets Blow Late Lead Lose To Bucks In OT

 

 

By Andrew Rosario 

 

There are going to be nights when neither the Brooklyn Nets Kevin Durant or Kyrie Irving have it. That’s where other members of the team have to step up. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case when the Nets hosted the Milwaukee Bucks last night at Barclays Center.

 

 

Kyrie Irving after missing all 4 shots in the first quarter 0-2 from 3 point land, hit his first basket with 11:11 to start the second. Irving was fouled on his next 3 point attempt making 2 of 3 free throws. Starting to feel it, Irving connects on his next shot, a short jumper. Irving stayed white hot, draining his next jumper giving him 9 total points. Meanwhile, the Nets had no answer for the Greek Freek Giannis Antenenkoupo. Doing it from the inside and outside leading all scorers with 16 points. Even as the leading scorer, the Bucks trailed Brooklyn 50-39 after Patty Mills nailed a 3-pointer with 6:37 in the second quarter.

 

Giannis came off the bench adding 4 more points as Milwaukee closed the gap to 4 (60-56). The Nets shot 53% from the floor and were a tad better from 3-point land connecting on 56%. The Bucks struggled from both hitting only 45% from the floor and a measly 27% from 3-point land.

 

 

 

 

Bruce Brown led the Nets with 10 points while Irving cooled off finishing with 9. 

After Anterokounmpo, Khris Middleton added 12.

 

Milwaukee outscored Brooklyn 31-26 in the third with the Freak adding 13 more points. Up to that point, he converted all of his 9 free throw attempts. Something that has plagued him in his stellar career. Irving did his best to keep pace by scoring 11 including 3, 3 pointers. Then, looking like they would come away with the win after taking a 9 point lead with about 3 minutes to go in the fourth quarter, they fell flat in the 120-119 overtime loss.

 

Milwaukee outscored Brooklyn 11-2 to close out the quarter at 110. Durant had a chance at a game winning shot but misfired.

 

Both teams went back and forth in overtime with the Nets going up by 1 (119-118) after Durant gets fouled behind the 3-point line converting all three free throws. Antetokounmpo then rumbles down court, gets fouled and calmly sinks the game winning free throws. Durant second shot at stealing the win failed.

 

The Greek Freak finished with 41 points and 14 rebounds. 4 other Bucks scored in double figures with Holiday netting 19. Durant netted 26 and 11 assists as the Bucks threw 2 and 3 players at him for most of the game. Irving and Bruce Brown 26 and 25 respectfully.

 

Said head coach Steve Nash after, “it’s a tough end to the game. On one hand we made a ton of mistakes and cleaned up a lot of stuff. On the other hand we’re a brand new group really playing against the champs.”

 

The Brooklyn Nets are currently in 8^th place in the division. They travel to Atlanta tomorrow to face the Hawks whoever are in 10^th place.