The Nets were close for a while. Aside from a rough stretch early in the third quarter and a late fade in the fourth, Brooklyn delivered one of its most complete performances of the season, pushing a disciplined Minnesota Timberwolves team without All-Star Anthony Edwards to the wire.
But once again, head coach Jordi Fernández’s group couldn’t finish, falling to 0-7 after a 125-109 loss Monday night at Barclays Center. The effort’s improving, but the outcomes remain the same.
Depending on Tuesday’s result between New Orleans and Charlotte, Brooklyn could end the night as the NBA’s lone winless team.
With forward Michael Porter Jr. out for personal reasons, Noah Clowney stepped into the starting lineup and provided an instant spark for a group desperate for defensive energy.
The Nets’ effort on that end was noticeably sharper than in recent games, with active hands producing several deflections and Clowney setting the tone by diving for loose balls. Brooklyn forced three quick turnovers to open the game, two of them created by the third-year forward.
It added up to the kind of start Fernández had been pleading for. Brooklyn held Minnesota to 28 points in the first quarter and forced eight turnovers, while Cam Thomas found an early rhythm offensively. The Timberwolves shot 61.1% from the field and the game was tied heading into the second, but for this Brooklyn team, that still counted as a small victory.
The Nets’ defense slipped a bit in the second quarter, surrendering 35 points, but they stayed within reach thanks to balanced scoring and a perfect 4-for-4 period from Thomas. Brooklyn trailed 63-59 at halftime, with Thomas leading all scorers with 19 points on 8-of-13 shooting.
For a moment, the game looked like it might get away from Brooklyn. The Timberwolves opened the third quarter on a 13-5 run and built a 12-point lead with 9:08 left in the period, but coming off a 24-point loss to Philadelphia the night before, the Nets punched back.
Brooklyn answered with a burst of its own, punctuated by a Ziaire Williams four-point play that put the Nets back in front with 1:57 remaining in the quarter, and they entered the fourth down just three.
But fans know how this story goes by now. With 4:35 remaining, the Nets were suddenly down by 19. A minute later, with 3:33 left, Fernández emptied his bench as Danny Wolf made his NBA debut alongside Nolan Traoré, Ben Saraf, E.J. Liddell and Day’Ron Sharpe to close out the game.
Brooklyn shot just 23.1% in the fourth quarter while allowing Minnesota to hit 52.9%, getting outscored 34-21 in the period. Thomas and Donte DiVincenzo each finished with a game-high 25 points to lead their respective teams.
The Nets will head to Indiana on Wednesday to face the Pacers at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
