LOS ANGELES — The Nets’ defense kept them in their game Saturday. Then Seth Curry won it for them.
Curry’s late shooting and a big fourth-quarter run led the Nets to a 110-95 victory over the Clippers before a crowd of 17,777 at Crypto.com Arena.
Kevin Durant finished with 27 points, albeit just two in the fourth quarter. But Curry had 14 of his 22 in the final period, when the Nets (6-7) took over with a game-changing 20-2 run and withering defense.
“We dedicated our energy and effort on the defensive end, which was special,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “Hopefully this group is feeling it: Shot-clock violations, blocked shots, helping each other. That piece of it has to be contagious.”
The Nets are starting to feel it and taste it. They have gone 4-2 since Vaughn replaced Steve Nash as coach and they’re 4-1 since Kyrie Irving was suspended for promoting an anti-Semitic film on social media and initially refusing to apologize. Saturday, they held their opponent under 100 points for the fifth straight game.
“It’s been beautiful the way we’ve been defending,” said Nic Claxton, who had 13 points, a career-high 14 boards and three blocks. “Everybody, we’re all connected. We’re helping each other cover for each other.”
The Nets trailed 86-84 with 7:42 left in the game, but won it with that 20-2 blitz. Curry capped the run by finding Royce O’Neale for a 3-pointer and a 104-88 cushion with 2:22 left.
The held the Clippers, who were playing without Kawhi Leonard, to 1-for-7 shooting with two turnovers during that run. Curry, who used the pick-and-roll with Ben Simmons to get going early, handled the point with aplomb to close out the game.
“He’s another ballhandler, scorer, somebody that can get hot and be a wild card for us,” Durant said. “He ran the point in the fourth and continued to control the game and won the game for us.”
After the Nets fell behind 86-84, Simmons tied the score with a floater, then stole a John Wall pass. Curry drilled a 3 to give them a lead they did not surrender.
A Claxton steal and basket made it 93-88 with 5:32 left. Consecutive Curry 3-pointers over the next two minutes blew the game open. The second of those treys made it 99-88 with 3:41 to play.
Claxton made a finger roll and then blocked Paul George at the rim. When Curry found O’Neale for a 3-pointer with 2:22 left, the game was over.
O’Neale, Claxton and Durant took turns defending George, who was held to 17 points, shooting 5-for-21 in a game-worst minus-19.
“Me and K had a little hot pick-and-roll going. They switch it, K’s got a mismatch, sometimes they’re indecisive on what they want to do. So, got to be aggressive. … It’s a fun way to play,” said Curry, adding the defense was the key.
“Everything [is working] for us right now. We’re playing as a team, communicating on both ends of the floor. Our defense has been really good because everyone’s helping each other.”
Whether Curry plays Sunday against the Lakers is TBD. He hasn’t played a back-to-back since offseason ankle surgery. LeBron James, meanwhile, is doubtful with a left adductor strain. Durant and James haven’t faced each other since Christmas 2018.
