Don’t get too mad over this one: the Golden State Warriors are a better team, plain and simple. Sometimes the better team wins.

That aside, the Nets had their chances to claw back, cutting a 15-point lead to five at one point in the fourth quarter with a quirky lineup led by fireball Jarrett Jack. But after some rough stretches in the first three quarters, they couldn’t get enough stops against an explosive offensive team, and couldn’t score enough in the paint against Andrew Bogut’s stifling interior defense.

Brook Lopez

D

The stats: 18 PTS, 7-16 FG, 4 REB, 3 TOV

Fluctuated from easy, early touches on interior floaters, to maddening attempts through triple-teams and into Andrew Bogut’s hands late.

Got significantly worse as the game went on, to the point where he effectively killed possessions with bad shot selection, slow decision-making, and a lack of rebounding prowess. Saved by a couple of late open shots, but after the game was mostly out of reach.

Still taking mid-range jumpers, despite Hollins’s insistence that he stay in the paint, and despite Lopez having struggled with mid-range jumpers for the last few seasons.