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BROOKLYN – The snap you heard wasn’t a dried out branch of your Christmas tree cracking. It was the sound of the Brooklyn Nets' longest winning streak of the season getting snapped.

The Nets had a chance to win their fourth straight game of the season and close to within a game of .500 against an Indiana Pacers team that came in with a 10-20 record, including an ugly loss Friday night to the lowly Detroit Pistons.

No Paul George. No Lance Stephenson. No excuses.

But the Nets turned in a woeful offensive performance Saturday night in Barclays Center and dropped a 110-85 decision, tying their worst loss of the season. The Nets led 51-50 in the third quarter but the tone was set in the first quarter when the Nets posted just one assist.

During the team’s season-long three-game winning streak, they converted 124 field goals off of 69 assists. That ball movement was nowhere to be found.

The Nets fell to 13-16. The Pacers improved to 11-20. The Nets host the Sacramento Kings Monday night.

KEY STAT: The Pacers bench outscored the Nets bench, 52-16.

KEY STRETCH: Kevin Garnett knocked down a wing jumper giving the Nets a 51-50 lead early in the third quarter. The Pacers countered by outscoring the Nets 29-14 over the remainder of the period. They took a 79-65 lead into the fourth quarter.

KEY PLAY: After Garnett’s jumper, David West countered with a driving layup 18 seconds later to give the Pacers a 52-51 lead and spark a 29-14 Indiana surge.

NETS GAINS: Sergey Karasev had a solid all-around game with a career-high 13 points, three rebounds and one assist. He is not a great defensive player but he is a smart one and that, more than his offense, will keep him in Coach Lionel Hollins’ favor.

TALK: Deron Williams and Brook Lopez struggled coming off the bench. They were a combined 2-of-12 shooting. Williams is working his way back from a right calf injury. Lopez is coming back from a strained lower back.

“They didn’t play very well,’’ said Coach Lionel Hollins. “They have to play better for us to be better.’’

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Nets Revert to Bad Habits in 110-85 Loss to the Pacers

Brooklyn Nets

BROOKLYN - It is a one-hour and 45-minute flight from Newark to Charlotte, a trip the Brooklyn Nets made Friday night.

It is a one-hour and 45-minute flight from Newark to Charlotte, a trip the Brooklyn Nets made Friday night.

Led by Mason Plumlee, who had a conversation with Coach Lionel Hollins in Chicago, the Nets didn’t have to face a flight ruined by emotional turbulence.

Plumlee scored 18 points and grabbed 10 rebounds as the Nets pulled away in the second half for an 88-70 win that snaps a three-game losing streak.

The victory ups the Nets' record to 9-12 and avoids what would have been an inexcusable loss to a team with just two wins on the season.

KEY PLAY: Tony Wroten was going in for what appeared to be an uncontested fast-break layup that would have made the score 61-60 Nets with 40 seconds left in the third quarter.

But Bojan Bogdanovic didn’t give up on the play. He ran down Wroten, rose up, and tipped away the layup attempt. Alan Anderson then hit a jumper, giving the Nets a 63-60 lead going into the fourth quarter.

KEY STRETCH: Starting with 2:25 left in the third quarter, the Sixers missed 12 straight shots. The Nets surged to a 73-63 lead. Robert Covington’s 3 with 6:55 left in the fourth stopped the hemorrhaging. Yep, 12 straight misses is hemorrhaging, not bleeding.

KEY STAT I: The Nets outscored the Sixers 42-18 in the paint.

KEY STAT II: The Sixers committed 23 turnovers.

KEY STAT III: The Nets held the Sixers to 25 points in the second half.

NETS' GAINS: Just as was the case last season when the Nets lost Brook Lopez to a season-ending broken foot, Plumlee stepped up in Lopez’s absence. He had a season-high 18 points on 9-of-14 shooting. He added 10 rebounds for his second double-double of the season and the sixth of his career.

Plumlee initiated a conversation with Hollins in Chicago. The 6-11 power forward/center came away with a better understanding of what the coach wants.

“He was very receptive,’’ said Plumlee.

UNSUNG HERO: Cory Jefferson is Mr. Irrelevant. The 60th and final player picked in the NBA Draft had six points, seven rebounds, three blocked shots and one sick alley-oop dunk. He could be this year’s Mason Plumlee, which would make him not very irrelevant for long.

TALK: Deron Williams was 0 for 8 from the field but he gave out 10 assists. After the game, he was asked about the slump. His witty response was a slap at Kobe Bryant, who criticized Williams over the summer for not shooting more against the Miami Heat when he was struggling in the playoffs.

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Nets Snap Skid With an 88-70 Win Over Sixers Behind Plumlee’s Double-Double

BROOKLYN – Come Saturday morning, Jarrett Jack is going to be a more complete man – more proud, more confident, more ready to meet the future, whatever it may be.

Jack, the Nets’ backup point guard, will fulfill a promise he made to his family and himself 10 years ago. He will get his degree in Business Management from Georgia Tech in Atlanta.

That’s a nice story. But it’s only half the story.

“It’s a big personal achievement,’’ Jack said. “Finally I’ve rounded third and hit the finish line. I can finally say I’m a college graduate.’’

That final stretch – the other half of this story - will be a whirlwind of the surreal.

Immediately after the Brooklyn Nets play the Philadelphia 76ers Friday night in Barclays Center, Jack will fly to Atlanta. Saturday morning he’ll don a graduation gown and mortarboard.

After commencement and a brief visit with his family, Jack will fly to Charlotte where he’ll lace up his high tops, slip on his No. 0 Brooklyn jersey, and take the court against the Charlotte Hornets.

“It’s going to be crazy,’’ Jack said. “The last graduation I had was in high school.’’

Jack, 31, left Georgia Tech in 2005 after his junior season to pursue his dream of playing in the NBA. He made a promise to his mother, Louise; his father, Carlton; his brother, Justin; and most of all, himself. He vowed to get his degree.

It’s taken 10 years. Ten years of odd looks from much younger classmates. Georgia Tech is not Cupcake U. Jack couldn’t fulfill his degree online. He had to take classes in person.

“I remember my professor was like, ‘What are you doing? You have a job that pays pretty well. What are you doing here?’ ’’ Jack said. “Man, it’s just a personal promise between me and my family.’’

Jack foolishly thought his family might forget the promise, foolish because the Jack family is one of achievers.

His father played college football for the legendary Eddie Robinson at Grambling. His brother got his college degree at Morehouse College. His mother worked for the Central Intelligence Agency.

“I’m thinking this is cool. When I get through my season, when I come back, she won’t remember,’’ Jack said. “But as soon as that last game was over, she was like, ‘OK, what classes are we taking?’ ’’

When asked why he thought his CIA mom would forget the promise, Jack paused and grinned.

“Good point,’’ said Jack, who does not know in what capacity his mom worked for the CIA.

Jack has always gotten the point, one reason he’s been a savvy, professional, NBA point guard in his 10th season. He’s always seen a life outside of basketball, a life after jump shots and assists.

“None of us can predict the future,’’ said Jack. “This thing we have playing basketball, it’s a luxury. Even if you play 15, 20 years, you still have a lot of life to live.’’

Degree in hand, Jack will be a little more ready to live that life.

“I know it’s going to be one busy day with what I have going on,” Jack said. “It’s definitely going to be worth it.’’

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Jack Poised to Fulfill a Promise He Made 10 Years Ago

CHICAGO – Brook Lopez (strained back) was home. Joe Johnson (flu) was home. Mirza Teletovic was in the Windy City with a screaming hip pointer that prevented him from playing against the rugged Chicago Bulls. It wasn't hard to see a Bulls' run on Wednesday night.

But the undermanned Nets did not go quietly into the brisk Chicago night. Led by veterans Kevin Garnett, Alan Anderson and Deron Williams, undermanned Brooklyn went toe to toe with Chicago for three-plus quarters.

The final score – 105-80 – was deceptive. The Nets trailed 77-68 going into the fourth quarter and forced a Chicago timeout with 7:01 left when they cut an 86-68 lead to 86-73.

Nets Coach Lionel Hollins, trying to snap a two-game losing streak, inserted Sergey Karasev into the starting lineup in place of the struggling Bojan Bogdanovic. Karasev acquitted himself well, scoring six points and grabbing six rebounds.

Deron Williams led the Nets with 17 points. Kevin Garnett added 13 points and seven rebounds.

The Nets, 8-12, host the Philadelphia 76ers on Friday night in Barclays Center. Chicago, led by Derrick Rose’s 23 points, improved to 13-8.

KEY MOMENT: It came after the game. Kevin Garnett left the bench in the fourth quarter to have an x-ray on his left foot. The x-ray came back negative.

KEY PLAY: With Mason Plumlee trying to avoid picking up his fourth foul midway through the third quarter, he simply couldn’t be as aggressive as he wanted to be on defense. Brooklyn’s own Taj Gibson backed him down on the baseline and threw down a monster slam for a 66-55 Chicago lead.

KEY STAT: After shooting 18 of 46 in the first half, things got worse for the Nets in the second half. They went 11 of 42.

NETS' GAINS: Jerome Jordan has clearly shown himself to be a capable backup center. He scored 10 points and grabbed six rebounds in 25 minutes. He had 12 points and three rebounds against the Cavs.

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Nets Fade in the Second Half vs. Bulls; X-Rays on Garnett’s Foot Negative

BROOKLYN – Prince William looked relaxed in a plaid dress shirt and dress pants. Kate Middleton was quite the vision in a black and white tweed coat over black skinny jeans.

JAY Z and Beyonce, Brooklyn’s version of a royal couple, greeted the royal couple, who were attending their first NBA game.

Odell Beckham Jr., he of the royally amazing catch, was in the house. So was Dikembe Mutombo. And CC Sabathia. It was a night of stars in the stands at Barclays Center.

Unfortunately for the Brooklyn Nets, two of their biggest stars were unable to take the court against the King and his Court.

Brook Lopez (back strain) and Joe Johnson (stomach virus) didn’t dress for the Nets. Mirza Teletovic suffered a laceration on his face in the third quarter and did not return.

The Nets ran out of bodies and gas in a 110-88 loss to LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

It was a three-point game in the third quarter when the royal couple made their way to their seats in the front row. They were treated to a wonderfully warm reception from the crowd and an NBA dunk contest, courtesy of the Cavs.

The loss drops the Nets to 8-11. Deron Williams led the way with 13 points and 11 assists.

Cleveland won its seventh straight and improved to 12-7. Dion Waiters led Cleveland with 26 points as the Cavs' bench outscored the depleted Nets' bench, 59-42.

KEY STRETCH: The Nets were down 68-65 when the royal couple made their appearance. The Cavs handled the distraction better, going on a 17-2 run to seize control at 85-67. Tristan Thompson capped the run with two dunks.

KEY STAT: The Nets entered the game without Lopez and Johnson, and lost Mirza Teletovic to a laceration on his face late in the third quarter. Without those three, the Nets didn’t stand a chance on the boards. Cleveland outrebounded the Nets 55-33, including 20 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points. Teletovic needed four stitches to close the laceration.

UNSUNG STAR: Can LeBron James ever be an unsung star? Dion Waiters was the game’s high scorer. Tristan Thompson was a dunking fiend. But James was the focal point with 18 points, seven assists, four rebounds and three steals.

NETS' GAINS: Without Lopez and Teletovic, Jerome Jordan got extended minutes when the game was on the line. He responded with a season-high 12 points on 6-of-8 shooting. Sergey Karasev had 11 points on 4-of-5 shooting.

TALK: Several of the Nets wore "I Can’t Breathe," T-shirts during the pregame warmup. Deron Williams said they were courtesy of JAY Z. Nets Coach Lionel Hollins said he had no problem with his players taking a social stand.

“They should do that,’’ said Hollins. “It’s their right as citizens of America.’’

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Nets Are Royally Outmanned in a 110-88 Loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Kyle Plonchak

BROOKLYN – The Brooklyn Nets had a chance Friday night to turn the corner.

After two straight wins, the most recent coming on Wednesday night over the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs, the Nets had a chance to get back to .500 for the first time since Nov. 13 and a chance to post their first three-game winning streak of the season.

The Nets got a stark reminder that a lot of work remains before this team can call itself a playoff contender. They got blasted 98-75 by a surging Atlanta Hawks team that won its fifth straight.

The game turned in the second quarter when the Hawks dropped a 36-13 egg on the Nets. The Nets fell to 8-10. Atlanta is 12-6.

“Thirty-six to 13 did it,’’ said Coach Lionel Hollins. “It didn’t seem like we had a lot of energy from the whole group.

“It happens like that four or five times a year. You try to get over it real quick. I thought we would come out and play better.’’

KEY STRETCH: Seeing his team fall behind 37-25 with 3:19 left in the second quarter, Lionel Hollins had seen enough. He drew a technical foul.

The Nets didn’t show the same fight. They were outscored 15-6 over the remainder of the quarter and went to the locker room down, 52-31.

It was déjà vu all over again. In the season-opening loss to the Boston Celtics, Hollins drew a technical with 3:28 left in the first half and the Nets trailing 52-40.

The Nets didn’t respond to their coach’s fire. Boston closed the half on a 15-1 run for a 67-41 halftime lead.

KEY PLAY: The Nets were slowly bleeding out in the second quarter. But when DeMarre Carroll stuck a 3 at the buzzer, the Hawks had their biggest lead of the first half at 52-31.

KEY STAT I: The Nets were outscored 36-13 in the second quarter.

KEY STAT II: The Nets were outscored 39-9 on three-pointers.

STAR: There were no stars on a night like this but Jorge Gutierrez made the most of his 15 minutes, scoring six points on 3-of-6 shooting. He added three assists, two rebounds and one steal.

TALK: “Players come back and play. You lose a triple overtime game. You lose on a last-second shot. You come back and play. That’s the nature of competition. If you can’t handle that, then you don’t play.’’

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Hawks Show the Nets There is Still Work to Be Done

BROOKLYN – The message couldn’t have been more clear, concise and passionate.

Coach Lionel Hollins implored the Brooklyn Nets – challenged them - to build on their win over the Knicks Tuesday night with a strong effort against the San Antonio Spurs Wednesday night in Barclays Center.

Can the Nets beat a team with a winning record, he asked?

The Nets frittered away a 14-point lead in the final 5:11 of regulation but responded in overtime to claim a 95-93 win.

The win lifts the Nets to 8-9, giving them two straight wins for the first time in almost a month. They had been 0-7 against teams with a winning record.

“I hope we can make this the start of something,” said Joe Johnson. “We got a big win yesterday over in Manhattan against the Knicks and then come back here tonight against the defending champions on a back to back. That was big. We showed a lot of guts.”

The Nets had to regroup after Danny Green drained a 3 with 2.7 seconds left in regulation to force overtime.

“It’s good that we prevailed,” said Brook Lopez. “We fought through it. Earlier in the season, I don’t know if we get back from that.”

The Spurs had a chance to tie or win in OT. Manu Ginobili went for the win. His straightaway 3 bounced off the rim. A wild scramble for the loose ball resulted in a jump ball with two-tenths of a second left.

The 7-foot Lopez easily beat the 6-3 Cory Joseph for the tip. As the ball shot towards midcourt, the fans in Barclays Center erupted.

Not only did the Nets claim their first win over a team with a winning record, but they did it against the best team in the NBA, the defending NBA champion San Antonio Spurs.

KEY PLAY: Trailing 88-85, the Spurs called a timeout with 7.2 seconds left, needing a 3 to force OT. The Spurs showed why they’re champs by perfectly executing their play call, which had Danny Green come free, wide open behind the 3-point line above the top of the key. He didn’t miss, sending the game into OT.

STAR: Hollins has often said he never knows which Mirza Teletovic he’s going to get. Wednesday night he got the good Mirza – the really good Mirza.

Teletovic, getting the start in place of Kevin Garnett, posted the third double-double of his Nets career. Perhaps more impressive than his 26 points, which included 5-of-7 shooting from behind the arc, was his career-high 15 rebounds.

Teletovic got a pointed message from Hollins before the game.

“He told me, ‘Zip your head back together and start playing,” said Teletovic.

UNSUNG STAR: Lopez followed up his eight-rebound game against the Knicks with a season-high 15 rebounds against the Spurs. He added 16 points and battled Tim Duncan (14 points, 17 rebounds) to a draw.

NETS’ GAINS: There were many times last season when Deron Williams passed up big shots. He simply didn’t have the confidence that he’d make them.

Williams stepped to the line with 7.2 seconds left and calmly drained two free throws. In Tuesday night’s win over the Knicks, his 3 pushed a 91-88 lead to 94-88. In OT, he got the Nets going with a 3.

TALK: “I have to commend Deron, Joe and Brook – they were all on the floor on the last play for that loose ball,” said Hollins.

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Nets Beat the Defending NBA Champion Spurs For Their First Win Against a Team With a Winning Record

NEW YORK – The Brooklyn Nets have handled adversity this season like it was a used dental glove.

At the first sign of it, the Nets have shrunk.

When a 10-point lead had been whittled to three, the Nets continued to make plays. By standing tall instead of shrinking, the Nets pulled out a 98-93 win over the Knicks.

The win lifts the Nets to 7-9 and dropped the Knicks to 4-15. The Nets beat the Knicks 110-99 in Barclays Center earlier this season.

Almost every key player made an aggressive play down the stretch.

Brook Lopez had a blocked shot of Cole Aldrich.

Deron Williams (19 points on 5-of-8 shooting on 3s) made a three and rose up for a loose-ball rebound.

Joe Johnson (22 points) made some key steals.

Kevin Garnett (13 rebounds) knocked down a baseline jumper.

NETS' GAINS: Lopez scored 23 points on 10-of-20 shooting. But Lionel Hollins was more pleased with his eight rebounds, three blocked shots and two assists.

KEY STRETCH: Whatever Lionel Hollins said in the locker room at halftime worked. The Nets opened the third quarter on a 22-10 surge to take a 71-55 lead. Deron Williams keyed the run by knocking down a pair of three-pointers.

KEY PLAY: After the Knicks had gotten to within 91-88, Deron Williams drained a 3, his fifth of the night.

UNSUNG STAR: Joe Johnson played one of his best all-around games of the season. He finished with 22 points, eight rebounds, six assists and three steals. But his best effort came on the defensive end where he was primarily matched up against Carmelo Anthony. Johnson held Anthony to 7-of-22 shooting.

PLUM MINUTES: Lopez was not the only big man to prosper. Mason Plumlee played his second straight strong game, grabbing eight rebounds (five offensive) and scoring 10 points. He ran the floor like he did last season and attacked the basket.