A seven-game stretch that appeared to provide the Brooklyn Nets with a chance to pull away from the other teams fighting for the last three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference has begun poorly, with the Nets being physically dominated and outworked in the first two games.
The Nets (32-32) have started 0-2 in this crucial stretch, dropping their second straight game at home Friday night to the Charlotte Hornets, 123-112.
The next opportunity comes Saturday night when Brooklyn visits the Miami Heat (27-34) on the back end of a back-to-back.
Over the last two games, the Nets have surrendered 124 points per game, have allowed the Hornets and Washington Wizards each to rack up 68 points in the first half.