If this daunting three-game stretch was an exam, the Nets flunked the first part of it Friday night. The second part isn’t any easier, a likely visit from Kyrie Irving and the same Celtics team that handed them a season-worst 21-point loss a week ago.
A similar performance will lead to a similar result, beginning a negative trend after an impressive 13-4 stretch that preceded the loss to the Raptors up north on Friday.
“I think we can do better, I think we have done better against the elite teams,” said coach Kenny Atkinson, whose Nets have dropped 10 straight games to the Celtics.