ATLANTA — Just because the Nets aren’t fighting for the title in coach Jordi Fernandez’s first season doesn’t mean they can’t show some fighting spirit. They may have shown a little too much in his first game as coach.
The Nets momentarily lost their composure in the season opener Wednesday, then lost 120-116 to Atlanta at State Farm Arena.
A short-handed six-point underdog on the road — and projected by sportsbooks to win a record 19.5 games — few expected the Nets to win this one.
Yet they led late in the third quarter and trailed just 90-89 with 8:22 left when they allowed a 12-3 run – aided by two frustrating fouls, including a Flagrant 2 from Nic Claxton that had the center evicted.
It spoiled the debut of Fernandez, the first Spaniard to become an NBA head coach and only the third European.
“For sure. It’s definitely an honor to be one of the 30. It’s an honor to represent basketball where I come from, that’s right, to come from Spain,” said Fernandez said before the match. “I grew up in a FIBA environment, then I arrived in the NBA working for 15 years. So the trip is really cool. I thought about it a lot. And like I said, I’m extremely proud and very happy.
“At the same time, the most important thing is that you enjoy it, and then you move on; because my goal is not just to coach in the NBA. My goal is to sustain it, to build a winning program, to be competitive, to be in the playoffs, to compete for a championship. It’s always the next step. Otherwise, if I don’t see the challenge, I will be in my hometown and probably living a good life. So I have to have a reason to live with this crazy schedule and do what we do every day.
In truth, the performance was not victorious but it was solid.
After all, Nets owner Joe Tsai and general manager Sean Marks have embarked on a rebuild, with an eye toward the No. 1 pick in the draft.
But they also want to develop the youth they already have, and there were some positive signs Wednesday night.
Cam Thomas scored a game-high 36 points, but 20 in the fourth quarter. Jalen Wilson added 16 off the bench. Claxton – who came off the bench after missing the preseason with hamstring soreness – was sent off for a foul on Dyson Daniels, a borderline clothesline that went from a common foul to a blatantly, with the Hawk descending from the ground and pursuing him. .
The Nets’ start has been slow and shaky.
Brooklyn allowed a 3-pointer from De’Andre Hunter, then Ben Simmons (six points, eight assists) handed the ball to Clint Capela, with another 3-pointer from Daniels.
Trailing 13-4, the Nets regained the upper hand with a 9-0 run to get back into the game. Simmons found Cam Johnson for a driving layup to tie the score at 13-all.
Brooklyn held the Hawks scoreless for 4:23, forcing eight straight misses and a few turnovers.
Trailing 35-31 after a dunk from Onyeka Okongwu (28 points), the Nets pushed back 10 without response.
Dorian Finney-Smith capped the blitz with a layup to make it 41-35 with 7:32 left in the half.
But Finney-Smith committed his fourth foul just seconds before the break, and Simmons his fourth with 6:59 left in the third and the Nets clinging to a 64-63 advantage.
The advance did not last.
Trae Young (30 points) drove to the hoop for a layup on the very next play. Noah Clowney gave the Nets the lead again on the next play, but the lead was brief.
After Hunter tied it with a free throw, a 3-pointer by Daniels with 5:26 left in the third quarter gave Atlanta the lead.
The Nets never led again the rest of the evening.
“It’s huge for him. I’m happy for him. But it’s going to take a lot of work and energy. This is the first game; we’ll take it day by day. I’m excited for him,” Finney-Smith said. “Obviously our goals are small, so we are improving every game. … But of course we want to make the playoffs. Nobody goes into a season without saying we’re trying to lose. We try to win as many matches as possible.
