Robinson Has Solid Night, But Nets Lose to Knicks

For players like Thomas Robinson, Friday night’s 105-91 loss to the New York Knicks had less to do with the final score and more to do with taking advantage of the opportunity to start.

Robinson, who started his third game of the season Friday, recorded his third straight double-double, dropping 14 points with a game-high 13 rebounds in the loss.

“When it comes to production individually, I’m satisfied with it, but the fact that we didn’t win leaves a bad taste,” Robinson said.

Interim Coach Tony Brown said that he’s giving guys like Robinson an opportunity to play down the stretch and it’s up to them to make the most of it. Robinson, who also had a game-high five steals, felt he gave a good effort on Friday night.

“This is when opportunity presents itself,” Robinson said. “I have to step up to the plate. This is what I’ve been asking for, what I’m been begging for, so it’s only right that I go out and produce.”

Playing without Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdanovic on the second half of a back-to-back, the Nets still managed to play with pace. They didn’t have their most efficient night, shooting 35.6% from the floor, but through sheer volume of shots – 101 – they kept the game close until midway through the fourth quarter, when it slipped away.

“We didn’t shoot it obviously as well,” Brown said. “The only caveat was that we put up 101 shots. That’s the kind of pace you want, but you’d like to see some of those shots go in.”

Sean Kilpatrick (team-high 17 points) pulled the Nets to 77-74 with 10:10 to play in the final period, but eventually the effects of four games in five nights showed. The Knicks went on a 10-2 run, leading 87-76 by the time starters Brook Lopez (16 points, 8 rebounds) and Shane Larkin (5 points, 5 assists) re-entered the game.

The Knicks shot 11-of-22 (50%) in the fourth quarter, including 5-of-8 (62.5%) from deep, taking control of the game.

“They had a rhythm going most of the night,” Brown said. “They had a number of guys making shots from deep. Melo caused some trouble in the low post.”

Langston Galloway led the Knicks with 18 points and seven assists, but five different Knicks hit double-digits. As a team, the Knicks shot 50% (42-of-84) from the field, including 61% (14-of-23) from deep.  

“They hit a lot of three’s in the fourth quarter,” Kilpatrick said. “We didn’t do a good enough job protecting the three.”

After a jam packed road trip, the Nets return home to Barclays Center on Sunday afternoon to play the New Orleans Pelicans. Tipoff is at 1 p.m.