NEW YORK _ The Nets game against the Spurs on Monday night at Barclays Center was a simple math equation. On defense, the Nets gave up two-point shots, and on offense, they made 19 of 50 3s. It added up to a much-easier-than-expected 101-85 victory over the slumping Spurs, who lost their fourth straight.
The Spurs' 85 points was the second-lowest for a Nets opponent this season, and they were held to 36.8 shooting for the game, including 16.7 from 3-point range on wretched 4-for-24 shooting. Trailing by 23 in the fourth period, the Spurs (33-29) made a belated 13-2 run to cut their deficit to 12 points, but they never got closer the rest of the way.
The Nets (32-30) made 38.0 percent from 3-point range and they actually finished with more makes from 3 than from two-point range (16). D'Angelo Russell led the Nets with 23 points and added eight assists and seven rebounds, and they got 15 points apiece from Joe Harris and Caris LeVert, who had seven assists and five rebounds. LaMarcus Aldridge topped the Spurs with 26 points and 10 rebounds, and DeMar DeRozan added 23 points.
The Nets were fortunate to catch the Spurs at the end of an eight-game road trip necessitated because their home arena in San Antonio is hosting a rodeo. The Spurs were only 1-7 on the trip, including a Sunday night loss to the lowly Knicks at Madison Square Garden.
So, despite the Spurs' seventh-place standing in the Western Conference, it looked like a winnable game for the Nets at the start of a three-game homestand that includes games against the Wizards and Hornets, both of which have losing records. "Playing here, it's an advantage," Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said before the game.
"We kind of booted one against Portland (last Thursday). I always say I like to make those games up. I think we have to make some money, especially with what comes after that. Very important."
Atkinson's reference was to the Nets' own extended seven-game road trip coming up in mid-March. From the first quarter, it was clear the Nets decided the best way to "make money" was to focus on rebounding and defense. Because the Spurs' two best players, LaMarcus Aldridge and DeMar DeRozan are poor 3-point shooters, it allowed the Nets to concentrate their defense inside the arc for the most part, holding the visitors to 37.5 percent shooting in the first half, including a miserable 1-for-9 effort from 3-point range.
Still, it was a close game until the send of the second quarter when LeVert, who had been scoreless to that point, scored every point in a 12-2 Nets run that gave them a 52-38 halftime lead. It turned out, the Nets were just getting warmed up.
They opened the third quarter with a 20-13 surge that included six 3-pointers, two each by Harris, Treveon Graham and Russell. The last two in that stretch both were by Russell, and the second of those came from about 30 feet out on the left wing and just showed the utter confidence with which Russell has been playing. That gave the Nets their biggest lead to that point at 72-51.
The third quarter ended with the Nets holding their biggest lead at 81-59, and the Spurs' point total marked the lowest yield by the Nets through three quarters this season. Their 22-point lead at that stage was their second-best after three quarters behind the 24-point lead they held over the Celtics on Jan. 14. That game turned into a nail-biter at the end, but the Spurs on Monday night were too pooped to put up much of a fight.
