FINAL: Nets 139, Spurs 121
If there's any game the Spurs will want to quickly through out the tape of, it's certainly this one.
San Antonio allowed 139 points in Friday night's loss to the Nets, the biggest output by a Spurs opponent so far this season. The Spurs never led in the matchup, with Brooklyn controlling the pace from wire to wire.
DeRozan's 24 total points led the team, with four other Spurs reaching double-digits in points.
Up next for San Antonio is a trip to Cleveland, where the Spurs will battle the Cavaliers on Sunday night. Tipoff is at 6:30 p.m. CT.
---
Nets 137, Spurs 113 (2:57 remaining)
We interrupt this forgettable Spurs matchup to bring you a second-half highlight:
Back to your regularly scheduled programming.
---
Nets 126, Spurs 108 (6:23 remaining)
With the score as lopsided as it is, San Antonio rookie Luka Samanic, who was selected in the first round last June, is making his NBA debut in Brooklyn tonight.
END 3RD: Nets 120, Spurs 95
Another 40-point quarter from Brooklyn, and San Antonio couldn't be in a much deeper hole entering the final quarter of play.
One bright spot on the night for the Silver and Black is Trey Lyles, who has knocked down five treys en route to 19 points through three quarters. He's one of four Spurs who have tallied double-digit points...but twice as many Nets players have scored at least 10.
---
Nets 97, Spurs 75 (6:20 remaining)
San Antonio isn't falling further behind against the Nets in Brooklyn, but it's they aren't making much progress chipping into the big lead, either.
DeMar DeRozan, however, has turned it on this quarter, scoring 11 of San Antonio's 24 points after returning from the locker room.
END 2ND: Nets 75, Spurs 54
San Antonio's defense struggled in the first two quarters, giving up a whopping 75 points to Brooklyn, which is the most points they've scored in any half all year. It's also the most the Spurs gave up in a half since allowing the Celtics to score 72 points on Nov. 9.
The Spurs shot 41% from the floor in the first 24 minutes of play tonight, while the Nets are shooting 54%. No San Antonio player has double-digit points at halftime; Lyles and DeRozan both tallied nine each. At this point, the Spurs' goal for tonight may be to make the final result respectable.
---
Nets 36, Spurs 65 (6:20 remaining)
A quarter-and-a-half into tonight's game, San Antonio is shooting just 37% from the floor. Meanwhile, the Nets are shooting at a 56% clip, including 61% from downtown.
This one may end before halftime, folks.
---
Nets 27, Spurs 56 (8:18 remaining)
Brooklyn isn't taking its foot off the gas to begin the second quarter, outscoring San Antonio 15-5 to begin the frame. The Spurs have made just two of their seven shot attempts so far, and Caris LeVert has already tallied seven points this quarter.
END 1ST: Nets 41, Spurs 22
Oof. A cold start for the shorthanded Spurs. Down Aldridge and Belinelli, San Antonio shoots 8-23 from the floor, and 1-8 from three. Meanwhile, the Nets have put in a team effort; without a player in double-digit scoring, Brooklyn has shot 55% from the field and 50% from three to pull ahead by 19 at the end of one.
This is normally where we embed highlights; this and-1 from Patty Mills will have to suffice.
---
Nets 29, Spurs 12 (2:52 remaining): Early minutes for the Spurs' young guns Keldon Johnson and Lonnie Walker IV. The Silver and Black could use a spark from the youth movement before the game gets out of hand early.
For the Nets, Brooklyn is coming out of the gate looking to forget the 39-point drubbing to the Memphis Grizzlies. They're shooting 50% from deep, while the Spurs have missed their first 6 three-point opportunities.
---
Nets 20, Spurs 6 (6:16 remaining): The San Antonio Spurs start small - and start sluggish.
The Silver and Black - still without LaMarcus Aldridge - started DeRozan, Murray, Forbes, White, and Lyles and the starting five was outscored by 11 before head coach Gregg Popovich made a lineup adjustment.
Spurs are just 3-12 shooting in the first frame and are still searching for their first made three-pointer. The Nets have made 7 of their first 11 shots.
Pregame
After alternating wins and losses for the past four games, San Antonio travels to Brooklyn on Friday hoping for a second straight victory when the Silver and Black battle the Nets.
Both San Antonio and Brooklyn have won four of their last 10 games, but the Spurs will be without a key player in LaMarcus Aldridge, who will sit out his fourth straight game with a right shoulder strain. On Brooklyn's side of the court, Kyrie Irving and Kevin Durant are expected to stay on the sideline with respective injuries of their own.
At 26-34, the Spurs would be on the outside looking in if the playoffs started today; they sit four games back of the eighth and final spot entering play on Friday. The Nets, however, are sitting pretty in the Eastern Conference's seventh slot at 27-34.
Head coach Gregg Popovich will be back to lead the Spurs after sitting out Tuesday's game due to "personal business"; Tim Duncan took the coaching reins as the Spurs defeated the Hornets, 104-103.
Friday's game tips off at 6:30 p.m. CT; follow along here for live updates.