INDIANAPOLIS _ OK, this one was a real test.
The Indiana Pacers were the first true playoff team that the Nets have faced this season. Yes, the Nets had looked impressive in a close loss to Detroit and a close win over the Knicks, but neither of those teams have an All-Star guard like Victor Oladipo or a realistic hope of moving past the first round of the playoffs.
This time _ with the Nets missing some of their better defensive players in Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Treveon Graham and DeMarre Carroll _ they couldn't do anything to stop the Pacers' perimeter attack in what ended up being a 132-112 loss at Bankers Life Fieldhouse.
After staying within about 10 points of the Pacers for most of the second and third quarters, the Nets were outscored, 37-27, in the final period. The Pacers had nine players finish in double figures. Overall they made 55.4 percent (51-for-92) of their shots while shooting 66.7 (16-for-24) percent from 3-point range.
Olidapo led all scorers with 25 points. Former Knick Kyle O'Quinn was the Pacers' next highest scorer with 16 points.
Joe Harris and Caris LaVert led the Nets with 19 points each.
Coach Kenny Atkinson knew this was going to be a tough out for his team. Not only are the Pacers one of the Eastern Conference's best teams, but it was the second night of a back-to-back on the road for the Nets.
The team was feeling pretty good after winning a tight game against the Knicks on Saturday. Atkinson, however, entered the game worried about his team playing consistent defense, especially in the third quarter.
In their loss to Detroit, the Nets were outscored, 32-25, in the third quarter. And against the Knicks they were outscored 26-17 in the third period.
"It's good to pull it out but what I don't like are those third quarter deficits, getting down 12," Atkinson said before the game. "I think that's where you really get into holes in this league, and then you have to scratch and claw back. We can't give up those big quarters. We can't get down 11, 13, 15 if we are going to rely on that and coming back. We have to do a better job controlling runs."
