Not-so-fun-fact: The Brooklyn Nets have not won the second game of a back-to-back on the road since December 21st, 2015. In that game, the Nets, led by Brook Lopez and Thaddeus Young, defeated the Chicago Bulls 105-102. The only player from that team still on the roster is Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. Since then, sadly, they have lost 32 straight games in those situations.

It was more of the same tonight against the Washington Wizards.

The Nets started the game in a stupor, possibly related to the fact that they played two overtimes last night before traveling to Washington to play today. The team struggled to create offense as they shot just 33% from the field. Stout defense kept the game close as the Nets held the Wizards to 2-for-13 from beyond the arc. Then D’Angelo Russell took it a step further as he turned that defense into instant offense.

If you've got it, shoot it @Dloading #WeGoHard https://t.co/O5Z7p3Dysd

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 2, 2018

Even when things looked bad, the Nets managed to go on a 13-4 run to close the lead to a single possession at the end of the first half. It could have been worse.

That could-have-been-worse feeling quickly materialized in the third quarter. The Nets came out playing sloppy, uninspired basketball that allowed the Wizards to go on an 11-0 run right off the bat. John Wall drove freely into the paint over and over and over again, while his partner-in-crime, for now, Bradley Beal found no more resistance as he strolled to the basket at will. If you didn’t guessed it already, the Wizards would carry a double-digit lead for the remainder of the contest.

Naturally, the offense didn’t look any better — but that’s been par for the course without Caris LeVert and, as of more recently, Joe Harris. The team gave up 19 turnovers that turned into 20 easy points to the Wizards. There was no cohesion as Brooklyn’s offense lacked it’s signature ball movement and flow, in fact, it’s been missing for quite some time now. This led the Nets to their worst offensive showing of the season — it was actually that ugly.

The Brooklyn Nets have now lost 33 straight games on the second night of a back-to-back on the road.

Maybe some streaks aren’t meant to be broken.

Rodions Kurucs

B-

The stats: 8 PTS, 2-7 FG, 0-4 3PT, 5 REB, 1 TO

Tonight was the first Rodions Kurucs sighting since November 16th.

He and Ed Davis were very possibly the only players to get non-garbage time minutes that showed any desire to be playing this game. While Kurucs couldn’t find his stroke from the three-point line, he made his presence felt through aggressive drives to the rim. His spark off the bench was one of the few notable performances of the night… sadly.

D'Angelo Russell

D

The stats: 8 PTS, 3-8 FG, 1-5 3PT, 2 REB, 7 AST, 1 STL, 2 TO

D’Angelo Russell could not put it together tonight.

When the offense is feeling clunky and struggling to get in a rhythm, Russell is the first player we’d trust to get the team back on the right track. Tonight, he failed to do that. His own struggles on the offensive end, combined with his uninspired defense against the backcourt of the Wizards, gave him the worst plus-minus on the team at minus-20.

Allen Crabbe

B

The stats: 14 PTS, 5-10 FG, 3-5 3PT, 2 REB, 2 STL, 0 TO

Allen Crabbe has slowly been getting better as the season progresses.

In a game where the team struggled to put the ball in the basket, Crabbe was the most consistent offensive threat on the floor for Brooklyn. On top of that, Crabbe managed to do that while not turning the ball over once — while every other starter did it at least twice. So, you know, silver linings.

Shabazz Napier

C-

The stats: 8 PTS, 2-13 FG, 1-7 3PT, 2 REB, 3 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK, 1 TO

Shabazz Napier took the most shots of any Nets’ player tonight.

While his selection was questionable at best and his shooting was inefficient, he did quite a few other things that helped the Nets this game. His defensive performance was quite strong and he even had this pretty lob to Kenneth Faried in garbage time.

.@KennethFaried35 soarin' https://t.co/tz5RTdhHnD

— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 2, 2018

That’s something to hang your hat on, right?

About the Author

Logan Gilchrist

Logan Gilchrist is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pursuing degrees in both political science and sports media & communication.