The Nets entered Wednesday’s game at Spectrum Center in Charlotte, N.C., just percentage points behind the Charlotte Hornets for fourth place in the lottery standings and only two games behind the Utah Jazz for second.
With draft position in mind, it was a game Brooklyn fans might've ideally preferred to lose.
However, doing so was expected to be a bit difficult given Charlotte was missing five key pieces in LaMelo Ball, Josh Green, Mark Williams, Cody Martin and Tre Mann. Not to mention Trendon Watford and Ben Simmons returned to the Nets’ rotation on Wednesday as well.