Net in unfamiliar locations rebounding from rare defeats

NEW ORLEANS — On Friday, the Nets do something they haven’t needed all month.

After seeing the league’s longest winning streak in over a year reach 12 in Chicago on Wednesday, Brooklyn now faces the Pelicans looking to avoid a loss.

Kyrie Irving said, “We’re going to put this on our chins like men do and be ready for the rest of the games ahead.

“We take it. That’s part of basketball,” added coach Jack Vaughan. “That’s what I told the group. Is not it.

“That’s why I’m not going too high or too low after this thing and I’m ready for the next game.”

Their next game is against a Pelicans team that just lost star big man Zion Williamson, who is averaging 26 points and seven rebounds. That took some star power away from a possible clash between Kevin Durant and Williamson, but New Orleans went 7-2 without a hamstring stud, including the last four without him. am.

The Nets were bullied 130-108 at the Barclays Center under then-coach Steve Nash to open the season against New Orleans. They rebounded 61-39 in their own building and 21-9 on the offensive grass. Now that the season has reached the halfway point, what can we do for the away rematch? And after the winning streak ended?

“I said I showed you how to win and how to keep winning, but I didn’t say anything about December or how to string together wins,” Vaughn said. “I never mentioned anything about streaks along the way,” Vaughan said. “It’s the game of the day that counts.

The Nets, who were the second best 3-point shooting team in the NBA, were just 12/37 from deep in Chicago. Kevin Durant and Seth Curry went 11-of-17 while the rest of the roster went 1-of-20. In their first game back from non-COVID illness, Royce O’Neal went 8-0 and Irving went 8-1.

TJ Warren (left rib contusion) is in doubt for the Nets after being forced out of Wednesday’s loss late in the fourth quarter. I am on a mission.

Williamson (right hamstring strain), Brandon Ingram (left thumb bruise) and EJ Liddell (right ACL) will be sidelined for New Orleans. Larry Nance Jr. (sore right shoulder) and Willie Hernangomez (sprained left ankle) are both suspect.