Rondae Hollis-Jefferson made his return after missing 50 games, but the Nets had little else worth celebrating.

In town were the Charlotte Hornets, fresh off their impressive 15-point comeback over the San Antonio Spurs last night and looking to make up the half game separating the franchise from the Eastern Conference’s third seed. Of course, because the Nets often bring out the best in their opponents, it was not Jeremy Lin, Nicolas Batum, or March’s Very Own Kemba Walker doing damage, but Frank Kaminsky’s 10 first quarter points leading the way.

Furthermore, it was a largely un-monumental start to the game on all fronts and other than Kaminsky and Hollis-Jefferson, there wasn’t much to write about — and that’s not hyperbole. Hollis-Jefferson, who’s lanky, jerky jumper made him a slight worry on draft night last June, drained his first shot to reignite the dreams and fantasies of all Nets fans. But other than that? Shrug.

Bojan Bogdanovic struggled with former Net Courtney Lee, Brook Lopez couldn’t decide how to defend Kaminsky, and Donald Sloan dribbled a lot but hardly went anywhere. Of note, the Hornets didn’t play particularly well either, but perhaps that is at the core that separates them (well on their way to home court advantage in the first round) and the Nets (already mathematically eliminated from playoff contention) at the end of day.

One team features Al Jefferson off the bench, the other is giving Henry Sims a 10-day audition — but the Hornets, who turned it over just 3 times in the half, simply don’t need to play their best ball to be effective. Kaminsky, who scored all 10 of his points in the first, was Charlotte’s only man in double figures and yet they led by that much from the floor. However, somehow, the game was just barely in reach because of Sean Kilpatrick’s flaming hot second quarter. His 14 point effort in just 9 minutes gave them at least one positive headed into the break: get Sean the ball.

While the Nets aren’t the strongest of defensive teams, it was actually their offense that let them down tonight at times — more than halfway through the third quarter, only Lopez, Kilpatrick, and Thaddeus Young had scored more than 3 points. While Lin and Walker led the Hornets through the quarter, it was Hollis-Jefferson and Lopez erupting for a 14-0 run that tied the game up briefly.

Into the fourth quarter, it was more of Lin as he tore up the less-than-ideal Thomas Robinson/Henry Sims frontcourt en route to a team-high 19 points.  After falling down 9 with 8 minutes to play, Tony Brown put Young, Lopez, and Hollis-Jefferson back in as a a last-ditch effort to reverse their fortunes.

It did not work. Whether it was Jefferson’s 6 straight points against Lopez or Batum going supernova from three, they took every one of Brooklyn’s late punches in stride. Some classic Lopez in the post and a Bogdanovic triple cut the lead to just 3 and with 30 seconds left, the Nets went to the hot-as-of-late forward on the game’s crucial possession.

Clank.

Despite Kilpatrick notching a career-high in points (25) and Hollis-Jefferson’s major rack-attack, the scrappy* Nets just fell short.

It was a valiant effort and a third quarter the Nets can build off of moving forward, but it was just wasn’t in the cards tonight. If that sounds like a copout, it kind of is — but when your recent D-League signee has a near-team high in points, being within 10 is a godsend.

Nobody will remember the Nets for chopping away at a 17-point deficit on a Tuesday night in late-March — but this an effort they can ultimately be proud of, no matter the result.

*whoa! that’s an adjective I haven’t used for the Nets in about a year!*