The Nets fell to the Golden State Warriors 121-119 on Thursday at home, marking their sixth straight loss and seventh since the All-Star break.
Stephen Curry put on a show, finishing with 40 points and seven made 3-pointers.
“That’s why he’s the best shooter ever and one of the best players in the world,” head coach Jordi Fernandez said. “I still think our guys did a great job. That’s how it looks when you play against a player like [him].”
There was a Barclays Center record 18,413 fans in attendance on Thursday. Most of them were Warriors fans. Curry jerseys were everywhere. Brooklyn was clearly outnumbered in its own building.
However, the Nets weren’t fazed by it early. They opened the game on an authoritative 27-7 run fueled by crisp ball movement, sharp 3-point shooting and stifling defense. Warriors head coach Steve Kerr got hit with a technical foul in the opening minutes, a testament to Golden State’s frustration.
Brooklyn outscored the Warriors 35-15 in a 60.9% shooting effort in the first quarter. They made five 3-pointers, limited Golden State to 31.8% shooting and forced six turnovers. Cam Johnson went 3-for-4 in his first eight minutes on the court.
It was the Nets second-best point differential in any quarter this season, and their best quarter in more than a year. Nic Claxton dished out five of his career-high 10 assists in the first quarter alone.
However, Ziaire Williams and Gary Payton II got into a minor scuffle at the first-quarter buzzer. Both players were assessed technical fouls. It seemed to light a fire under the Warriors, who opened the second quarter on a 20-10 run with Curry on the bench and reserves on the court.
A Moses Moody 3-pointer made it a 45-35 game with 7:20 left in the first half. Then Curry got hot, and the Warriors fed off his energy. He ended the first half in spectacular fashion, drilling a turnaround 38-footer over a double team with 0.3 seconds left.
Most of the crowd was too stunned to make a sound.
“He makes tough shots. Crazy shots. It can be deflating,” Cam Thomas said.
What was once a 22-point Nets lead was trimmed down to five at the break. It was a war the rest of the way. Brooklyn led 89-86 through three quarters.
The Warriors led 95-91 when Curry checked back in with 8:13 left. They led by 10 with 4:27 left. The Nets closed the game on a 10-2 run, but Golden State withstood the storm, completing their comeback and avenging a Nov. 25 loss to Brooklyn in San Francisco.
Curry (40) and Jimmy Butler (25) combined for 65 points in a 48.8% shooting effort for the Warriors.
Thomas, who knocked down a 35-footer to make it a two-point game with 8.7 second left, finished with 23 points, three rebounds and seven assists. Tyrese Martin added 17 points off the bench tonight, helping Brooklyn to a 43-39 advantage in bench points.
The Nets, who fell to 21-41 in Thursday’s loss, will return to action on Saturday against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center.