A loss counts as just one game in the standings, but when the New Jersey Nets have dropped a game this season, it's often been in convincing fashion.
Following their most lopsided loss in nearly a year, the Nets host a Portland team on Thursday night that's coming off its largest margin of defeat since Dec. 2007.New Jersey (19-20) is playing its third game in four nights, including a 118-86 loss at Boston on Wednesday. It was the Nets' most lopsided defeat since a 128-94 loss at Sacramento last Jan. 22.
"They kicked us real good," New Jersey coach Lawrence Frank said. "When talent works hard like that, you get embarrassed."
That's been a common occurrence for New Jersey. Seven of its 20 losses in 2008-09 have been by 20 or more points.
The Nets, among the league's worst shooting teams at 44.0 percent, hit 38.8 percent against the Celtics. New Jersey missed 10 straight shots to begin the second quarter.
After shooting 51.7 percent and averaging 24.5 points in his previous four games, Vince Carter missed nine of 10 shots on Wednesday and scored four points. He left the game for five minutes in the first quarter with a sprained right ankle but later returned.
Carter also struggled the last time these teams met, going 2-for-9 from the floor and finishing with 10 points in a 99-73 loss at Portland on Jan. 14, 2008.
Two nights after scoring a season-high 31 points in the Nets' 103-99 victory over Oklahoma City, Brook Lopez had only 13 against Boston.
"We didn't have too much fight," said Devin Harris, who had a team-high 17 points Wednesday. "We've still got a lot of work to do and I look forward to the next game."
The Nets will get another shot at the defending champions on Saturday afternoon in New Jersey, but the Blazers come first.
Portland (23-15) has split the first two games of its four-game road trip, including a 100-79 loss in Philadelphia on Wednesday that snapped a three-game overall winning streak. It was the Trail Blazers' worst defeat since a 100-79 loss to San Antonio on Dec. 2, 2007.
"Our rhythm offensively wasn't very good and we're not really guarding anybody either," said Brandon Roy, averaging 19.0 points, 6.3 boards and 4.7 assists in three games since missing four contests with a strained right hamstring.
The Trail Blazers shot just 39.4 percent, including a 3-of-13 effort from 3-point range. In addition to the game, Portland lost Steve Blake to a separated right shoulder in the first half.
"I'll definitely help and have the ball a lot more now with Blake being out," Roy said. "I have to be more aggressive earlier in the game to get us going."
According to Portland coach Nate McMillan, Rudy Fernandez will probably miss his second straight game on Thursday with a sprained left foot.
Portland has won its last two visits to New Jersey.
