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Mo Williams leads Portland with 21 points as the Nets are routed by Trail Blazers.
PORTLAND – Jason Collins’ story couldn’t mask this debacle. It was downright ugly for the Nets in Portland, a humbling lesson that they’re not as good as the top contenders.
Collins entered the game to start the fourth quarter, debuting his No. 98 uniform – which, for the second straight day, was the top seller on the NBA’s website. He logged seven minutes in his second game on a 10-day contract, failing to score a point, grab a rebound or commit a foul.
His effort was all too little, too late, though. Everything seemed too little and too late for the slower and older team from Brooklyn.
The Nets needed somebody to secure the paint, to end the latest debacle on the boards. One after another, Jason Kidd’s options failed.
He looked to the rest of the bench early, sitting all the starters for most of the second half – with the Nets knee-deep in Wednesday’s 124-80 debacle against the Trail Blazers. But it was too little, too late.
Sam Forencich/NBAE/Getty Images
Jason Kidd and Deron Williams, who added 12 points during Brooklyn’s miserable effort.
The same team that last month set the NBA record for the least amount of rebounds in game were hammered on the glass by the Blazers, 52-29. They were outscored in the paint, 56-44. They missed 18 of their 22 three-point attempts. They were swept this season by the young, upstart squad with a free-flowing offense.
The Blazers (40-18) played the night prior in Denver and were missing All-Star LaMarcus Aldridge, who is recovering from a groin injury. The Nets (26-29) hadn’t played since pasting the Lakers on Sunday, and had the services of three players who missed the previous game – Marcus Thornton, who made his Nets debut and scored 10 points in 11 minutes, Shaun Livingston and Kevin Garnett.
It didn’t matter. What transpired for the Nets was the third-worst loss in franchise history, and a season-low in points scored. They came out sluggish and sloppy, succumbing to the younger and quicker legs of the Trail Blazers.
Brooklyn again didn’t bother defending the paint, allowing the Blazers to drive and finish with ease. The Nets trailed by nine after the first quarter, and 24 at the break after Portland went on a 19-4 run to close the half.
Williams was the only Nets starter with a decent game, finishing with 12 points in 24 minutes. Joe Johnson, Paul Pierce, Livingston and Garnett combined to shoot 9-for-26.
The Blazers were led by Nicolas Batum, who scored 19 points, and Mo Williams (21). Will Barton scored 20 points with 11 rebounds. Robin Lopez – who is the twin brother of Nets center Brook Lopez – grabbed eight rebounds and blocked two shots.
The Nets (26-29) are now 2-2 on their six-game, 11-day road trip, with games Thursday at Denver and Saturday at Milwaukee. The Raptors (32-25) are opening up a gap in the division race. The Bulls (31-26) are continuing their rise up the standings. If this keeps up, the Nets won’t have homecourt advantage in the opening round of the playoffs – a very disappointing scenario considering they’re the most expensive team in NBA history.
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