Down 22 points at halftime and shooting 28 percent from the field, it looked like a stretch for the Nets to make any meaningful cut into Golden State’s lead. The Kevin Durant-less Warriors were rolling, led by Steph Curry. 

What did we learn? Never doubt the under-manned Nets. 

It was the third quarter where Brooklyn first came alive. After the deficit became as large as 28-points, the Nets outscored the Warriors 42-34 to make it a 14-point game. Allen Crabbe led Brooklyn’s comeback attempt, putting up 18 points after three quarters. 

Golden State won the bench battle to start the game, but Brooklyn edged itself back into the game with Caris LeVert providing an off-the-bench spark. He put up 13 points on the night, a majority coming in the second half.

The three ball also helped the Nets in their high-scoring third-quarter, with Crabbe, Spencer Dinwiddie and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson making it rain. 

With Curry benched for the first half of the fourth quarter with five fouls, the Nets continued to inch closer to the lead. Brooklyn came as close as four points of the Warriors with under three minutes to go, with the crowd and bench on Brooklyn’s side.

An opportunity arose for Brooklyn when Curry fouled out of the game on a charge against Quincy Acy with three minutes to go and Golden State’s lead down to five. He left with 39 points, but it was up to his teammates to finish out the win. 

Crabbe attacked first with a three-pointer, and Klay Thompson answered with a three of his own. Brooklyn’s response? Another Crabbe three ball. He had 25 points and six three-pointers on the night as he led the comeback effort.

Following that, Dinwiddie heaved up a three but it came short, which ultimately led Brooklyn to foul. That was the end of what was a thrilling momentum burst from the Nets.

The Nets were the aggressor, forcing turnovers and making a shot at the win possible. Brooklyn held Golden State to just 20 fourth-quarter points, but time ran out for the Nets to come back all the way. 

Brooklyn’s free throws hurt them tonight, as they made just 27-of-39, good for 69.2 percent. The Nets ripped away the momentum from the Warriors, but with free throws not falling, a 28-point comeback is hard to do.

The Warriors also dominated on defense in the paint, recording 14 blocks to Brooklyn’s two on the evening. 

A game fully expected to be a blowout at halftime turned into an exciting contest, and that’s something the Nets’ identity can be defined by – they might not have a shot at winning, but they play like they don’t know that. That makes basketball in Brooklyn exciting, despite the 6-10 record.

Next up? The Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday, Nov. 22. The Cavs will be looking for revenge on the Nets after their defeat earlier this season, but from this game, there’s one thing we know – the Nets like some competition.