So we actually did get a close game this time: after the Nets summer squad was downed in the fourth quarter by the Oklahoma City Thunder Monday night, the Nets took the Philadelphia 76ers down to the wire before falling in the waning moments, losing 92-86.
The loss drops the Nets to the bottom of the Summer League standings — they only earned one point in the loss for winning the second quarter, and have seven over four games. Conversely, the Sixers earned seven points in this game alone, for winning the game and three of four quarters.
There were some good things in the loss: with Mason Hakeem Shaquille Abdul-Jabbar Chamberlain Russell Plumlee sidelined with a sore foot, the Nets needed to get offense elsewhere, and spread it around. Markel Brown, Marquis Teague, and Cory Jefferson all made big contributions, as did Donte Greene from the invitees. Greene did miss some big shots down the stretch: he tied Markel Brown for the team lead with 17 points, but took ten more field goal attempts than Brown (19 to 9) to equal him in the scoring column. But the Nets couldn’t handle Casper Ware and Nerlens Noel, and the Sixers hit free throws to put it away.
The Nets will play one more game Saturday morning, likely against the Houston Rockets, to compete for the prize of being the second-worst team in Orlando Summer League
