After a thorough whacking by the New York Knicks on Thursday, the Brooklyn Nets continued their recent string of struggles in a 108-98 to the Houston Rockets on Saturday.

Brooklyn was ice-cold to start the game, and not in a good way. James Harden and Russell Westbrook had their way with the Nets’ defense — or more accurately, lack thereof. It looked like Houston’s dynamic duo was going to run away with the lead and hand Brooklyn another demoralizing loss.

But it is never that easy with this team, is it?

After falling behind quickly, the bench unit checked into the game and started to eat into the 22-point deficit. When only one of either Harden or Westbrook were in, the Nets made progress slowly clawed their way back into the game.

.@taureanprince catching FIRE in his home state ????

4/5 3P in the half pic.twitter.com/pBjpX1qN0o
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 29, 2019

Unfortunately for Brooklyn, Houston was not particularly fond of that idea. While the game was exceptionally close down the stretch, the firepower from Harden was simply too much for the injury-depleted Nets to contend with.

Take it @tpinsonn ? pic.twitter.com/xmwaolai44

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 29, 2019

This game was another example of the problems the squad will continue to run into with Kyrie Irving and Caris LeVert both sidelined. Nets fans will hope their return comes sooner rather than later.

Spencer Dinwiddie

D+

The stats: 17 PTS, 6-20 FG, 0-7 3PT, 5-11 FT, 2 REB, 11 AST, 5 TO, 33 MIN

Spencer Dinwiddie had his worst game in a good while.

oop!@Sdinwiddie_25 ↗️ @_bigjayy_ pic.twitter.com/9TRSlu2xBT

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 29, 2019

That feels strange to say after he posted a double-double, but he also struggled mightily to make his impact felt. This was not the role he was expecting to take on when this season started, but the Nets need more from their best healthy player and All-Star hopeful.

DeAndre Jordan

B+

The stats: 6 PTS, 3-4 FG, 12 REB, 1 BLK, 0 TO, 21 MIN

DeAndre Jordan’s stat-line does not stand out, but he was quietly the defensive anchor that led the team.

DEANDRE. DENIED. ?@DeAndre | #WeGoHard pic.twitter.com/g9WjqCqdCS

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 29, 2019

He outperformed Jarrett Allen in Houston. Of course, trying to stop Harden and Westbrook at the rim is no simple task, but Jordan’s added experience gave him the edge.

Rodions Kurucs

B-

The stats: 5 PTS, 2-3 FG, 1-2 3PT, 3 REB, 1 AST, 3 TO, 16 MIN

Rodions Kurucs had one of his better performances of the season.

? @RODIONS1 at the buzzer! ?

Single-digit game heading to the fourth! pic.twitter.com/0dL7pBpjAK

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 29, 2019

He was smarter with his shot selection, and it paid off. After an impressive rookie campaign, it appears as if most of his issues this season have been phycological. While his control of the ball and his body need some work, it would be a huge boost for the team if he was able to return to his previous form.