Shorthanded Nets routed by Kings as horrid shooting night leads to latest blowout

The Brooklyn Nets faced off against the Sacramento Kings at the Golden 1 Center in Sacramento, California, on Sunday, February 26, 2023. The Nets were coming off a win against the Chicago Bulls, but they were met with a much more formidable opponent in the Kings.

Despite the increased level of competition, the Nets struggled to keep up with the Kings from the opening tip-off. The team's shooting woes were evident early on, with key players missing open looks and turnovers plaguing their offense.

By the end of the first quarter, the Nets trailed 31-23, and things only got worse from there. The Kings' defense was relentless, and the Nets' offense seemed to be out of sync. The team shot a dismal 33.3% from the field and 23.1% from beyond the arc, making it difficult for them to keep pace with Sacramento's high-scoring offense.

The second quarter was no better for the Nets, who continued to struggle with their shooting and turned the ball over 11 times. The Kings took advantage of these mistakes and extended their lead to 21 points at halftime.

In the second half, the Nets tried to mount a comeback, but they could not overcome their poor shooting and sloppy play. The Kings continued to pour it on, and by the end of the game, they had routed the Nets with a score of 125-102.

Sacramento's De'Aaron Fox led all scorers with 31 points, while Kevin Durant was the top scorer for the Nets with 22 points. The loss was a disappointing one for the Nets, who had hoped to build on their recent win against the Bulls and make a push for a higher seed in the Eastern Conference playoff race. Instead, they were handed another blowout loss and will need to regroup before their next game.

Overall, it was a horrid shooting night for the Nets, who will need to address their offensive struggles if they hope to compete against the league's top teams. The loss was their third consecutive defeat and dropped them to 41-24 on the season. The Kings, on the other hand, improved to 38-28 and solidified their position as a contender in the Western Conference.