The Nets dropped their final road game of the season, 117-91, to Minnesota before a sellout crowd of 18,978 at Target Center on Friday night.
This tanking campaign is mercifully almost over, with just the finale Sunday against the Knicks.
Brooklyn (26-55) is bound for its worst campaign since 2016-17, when it went just 20-62.
The Nets trailed Minnesota by as many as 28, abused inside playing without Nic Claxton, Day’Ron Sharpe or Noah Clowney.
They had no answer against Minnesota center Rudy Gobert, who had his way with 35 points and 11 rebounds on 13 of 17 shooting.
Keon Johnson led the Nets with 20 points.
But they allowed 58 points in the paint, shot just 37.1 percent overall and got roughed up all evening.
Brooklyn coughed up a 30-9 Timberwolves run that spanned from four minutes left in the first quarter until well into the second.
Then it saw the game get entirely out of hand with another run in the third.
This time it was a 25-9 burst that blew it wide open.
The Nets trailed 96-68 with 2:19 left in the third on a 3-pointer by former Knick Julius Randle.
They may not be playing for much, but the Nets are closing their season with three straight foes who are both playoff-bound and highly incentivized.
That gap in talent and motivation showed.
After being routed Thursday at home by the Hawks, they got blitzed in Minnesota.
Minnesota (48-33) has won seven of eight, and eight of 10.
The Timberwolves didn’t pull their starters until there were just three minutes remaining, up 110-88.
Claxton, starting off guard Cam Thomas, starting point guard D’Angelo Russell (ankle), starting forward Cam Johnson (back) and backup center Sharpe (knee) were all out for the Nets.
Credit: Source link
