The Brooklyn Nets narrowly missed out in back-to-back road losses against two of the NBA’s top teams.
First, they fell 108-104 in overtime to the defending champion Boston Celtics on Friday. The next day, they had undefeated Cleveland on the ropes before the Cavaliers outscored them 35-18 in the fourth quarter to win 105-100. Up next, the Nets will face the reeling New Orleans Pelicans on Monday night.
Brooklyn trailed by 15 points midway through the second quarter before going on a 30-5 run that stretched into the third quarter. The Nets led by seven with 4:09 to play before committing three costly turnovers, allowing the Cavaliers to go on a 10-0 run.
In total, Brooklyn turned the ball over 20 times, leading to 26 points for Cleveland.
The Pelicans are trying to avoid dropping their heads amid a four-game losing streak that is part of a 1-7 stretch. They are coming off a 115-88 defeat at Orlando on Friday, with Orlando having lost its last five games.
New Orleans never led in the game, fell behind 37-23 after the first quarter, and was outscored 74-30 in the paint.
Leading scorer Brandon Ingram was the only one of the team’s top seven players who was healthy for the game. Zion Williamson missed Friday’s game, and the Pelicans announced Saturday that the two-time All-Star (left hamstring strain) will be out indefinitely.
However, forward Trey Murphy III is expected to return Monday after missing the first 10 games due to a right hamstring strain. He is listed as probable.
Guards Jose Alvarado and Brandon Boston Jr. have taken on much of the scoring load alongside Ingram. Alvarado has started the last six games and averaged 17.2 points and 5.7 assists in his increased role. Boston has averaged 20.0 points and 4.0 assists while starting the last three games.
