The Nets fell to the Atlanta Hawks 115-104 Sunday afternoon at State Farm Arena, dropping to 15-41 and extending their losing streak to four games.
For most of the afternoon, Brooklyn looked nothing like the team that struggled offensively two nights earlier in Oklahoma City. The ball moved. Shots fell. The process felt clean. But the fourth quarter told a different story.
After shooting 50.8% through three quarters, the Nets went cold when it mattered most, hitting just 27.3% in the final frame, committing five turnovers and getting outscored 26-17 as Atlanta surged.
Michael Porter Jr. led Brooklyn with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists, while Nic Claxton added 15 points and eight rebounds in his return from a three-game absence. Five Nets finished in double figures for just the fourth time this season, but it wasn’t enough to offset Atlanta’s late push.
Jalen Johnson paced the Hawks with 26 points, 12 rebounds and four assists.
Claxton wasted little time making his presence felt, getting involved early alongside Porter, who quickly found an offensive rhythm. Brooklyn’s rookies followed suit. Drake Powell provided one of the early highlights with five quick points off the bench, first burying a smooth step-back 3-pointer from the right wing, then following it with a crafty drive and physical finish moments later.
Still, the Hawks had answers. Jock Landale came off the bench and immediately shifted the tone, scoring 10 early points to help Atlanta grab a 32-30 edge after one. Day’Ron Sharpe’s emphatic block on Landale to open the second quarter hinted at a sustained effort from Brooklyn, and for much of the afternoon, that effort held.
The Nets briefly pushed ahead by five in the second, but Atlanta stayed composed, closing the half on a 10-2 run to take a 60-56 lead into the break. Brooklyn shot 51.2% in the first half and saw nine different players score, yet trailed because of a 31-17 rebounding deficit and Landale’s continued impact, as he carried 15 points into the break.
Claxton flirted with a triple-double through two quarters before ultimately falling short, but his all-around activity kept Brooklyn competitive. The third quarter opened with an 8-0 Nets run fueled largely by Egor Dëmin’s playmaking, briefly putting the visitors back in front. From there, the game settled into a tight, back-and-forth rhythm, with Atlanta inching ahead 89-87 entering the fourth.
Brooklyn’s best stretch arrived moments later. A Terance Mann 3-pointer gave the Nets a 102-91 lead with eight minutes remaining, their largest advantage of the afternoon. When that lead stretched to 11 shortly after, it appeared Brooklyn had finally seized control.
Instead, it slipped away in a flash.
Atlanta answered with a 6-0 run, and the game quickly turned uncomfortable for the visitors. The Hawks closed on a decisive 24-2 burst as Brooklyn’s efficient offense through three quarters vanished. Shots stopped falling, turnovers crept in and possessions that had previously looked sharp dissolved into hurried attempts and empty trips.
By the time the final buzzer sounded, what had felt like a poised road performance became another late-game lesson.
The Nets return to action Tuesday against the Dallas Mavericks at Barclays Center.
