BROOKLYN – In zone defense or man-to-man, the Thunder couldn’t get enough stops on a regular basis to give itself a chance in the fourth quarter.
Head Coach Scott Brooks’ club fell 116-85 to the Brooklyn Nets on Monday, falling behind early thanks to hot shooting by the Nets and poor execution on the defensive end. For the game, the Nets shot 52.4 percent from the floor, including a blistering 47.8 percent from the three-point line and 17-for-19 from the free throw line. On the other end of the floor, the Thunder’s offense didn’t look as crisp or sharp as it did on Saturday night against Denver, as the team shot just 39.0 percent from the field, 34.8 percent from the three-point line and went 13-for-21 from the free throw line.
“We didn’t have the defensive intensity,” Brooks said. “We turned the ball over too many times. We did a lot of good things in the first three games, and we didn’t do them tonight.”
After halftime the Thunder finally started to find a bit of a groove, but with Andre Roberson leaving the game with a foot injury, the team once again was left with just eight players to work with. Sebastian Telfair cut the Brooklyn lead to 14 on a driving layup, capping a 10-1 run. The Nets responded with a 7-0 run in a three-minute span shortly after that, pushing the lead back to 21.
That advantage would eventually billow to as many as 35 and the Thunder never truly challenged again. Reggie Jackson led the Thunder in scoring with 23 points, Perry Jones added 16, Sebastian Telfair scored 16 and Serge Ibaka chipped in 15 points. Ibaka and Steven Adams combined for nine rebounds while Sebastian Telfair and Reggie Jackson teamed up for 11 assists.
“We have to put it behind us,” Brooks said. “We’ll watch some film in the morning and go into Toronto and play much better.”
Jackson Returns to Action
The Thunder got one player off of the injured list tonight, as point guard Reggie Jackson returned to the lineup as the starting point guard. After trying to find a rhythm in the first quarter, Jackson settled in and played a bit better over the final three quarters, scoring 23 points, dishing out five assists and grabbing four rebounds. Ultimately, however, Jackson was disappointed in his seven turnovers and his defense on Deron Williams. Moving forward, Jackson will focus in on both areas with hopes of performing at a higher level on Tuesday night in Toronto.
“I need to continue to be aggressive, continue to attack and find guys for easy baskets,” Jackson said. “I just have to protect the ball.”
“Everything starts with the point guard, coming out and playing physical. I have to find a way to be better tomorrow,” Jackson continued. “They have another good point guard in Kyle Lowry and a good team in Toronto.”
Thunder Defense Must Stay Solid
Stopping the ball is the most important part of the Thunder’s defensive shell, and on too many occasions tonight, Brooks’ squad wasn’t able to get the job done. The result was straight line drives into the paint which created situations where the Thunder had to foul or opportunities for kick-outs to open three-point shooters. Moving forward, the team’s perimeter players must be strong, physical and smart with their footwork to prevent dribble-penetration that puts their teammates in difficult positions.
“Defensively we weren’t as intense as we usually are,” Perry Jones said. “We let them get open shots and hot early. It’s hard to turn a team off when they hit a couple open shots. They’ll be on all night. We have to come out better defensively next game at the start to have a chance.”
Stats of the Night
23- Points for Reggie Jackson, who made his return to the Thunder lineup after recovering from an ankle injury
13-for-23- Shooting numbers for the duo of Perry Jones and Serge Ibaka, who totaled 31 points combined.
19- Second chance points for the Thunder thanks to 15 offensive rebounds