Nets coach Jacque Vaughn admitted after another slow start Wednesday night against the Knicks that he is considering altering his starting lineup for Friday’s game against the Nuggets.
“It is really on me to take a closer look if there is a lineup change that needs to be had to get our group going,” Vaughn said after the Nets’ season-high losing streak was extended to four with a 121-102 loss to the Knicks at Barclays Center. “Like I told you, I’ve been taking data of this group, how we can get out to better starts.”
Vaughn could reinsert Dorian Finney-Smith or Royce O’Neale into the starting five, and perhaps bring Cam Thomas or Cam Johnson off the bench.
The Nets have been outscored by a combined 121-95 in the first quarter during the four-game skid.
The Knicks jumped out to a 16-5 advantage and led 32-20 after 12 minutes Wednesday night.
“When we dig ourselves a hole, it’s a deep hole, and the mentality of starting the game has to hit first. It’s tough for us to play from behind,” Vaughn said.
Nic Claxton has registered four blocked shots in each of his past three games, and he entered Thursday sixth in the NBA with 2.5 blocks per game.
Backup center Day’Ron Sharpe had a career-high 15 rebounds against the Knicks, including nine on the offensive end.
Ben Simmons (back) and Lonnie Walker IV (hamstring) remain out for the Nets, and Dennis Smith Jr. (back) has been listed as probable after missing the previous seven games.
Aaron Gordon (calf) is probable for the Nuggets.
The Nets’ following two games will be a home-and-home set on Saturday and Tuesday against the NBA-worst Pistons, whose losing streak reached 25 after Thursday’s defeat to the Jazz.