The Brooklyn Nets were defeated 122-117 by the Denver Nuggets

The Brooklyn Nets had a significant challenge in stopping their four-game losing run at the Barclays Center facing the defending champs on the other side. The Denver Nuggets arrived in town with a 19-10 record, coming off a win in Toronto and less than a week after trampling these very Nets.

Meanwhile, the Nets were on the second part of a back-to-back road trip, which is usually a Herculean endeavor when playing in Denver. The Nets mostly never rose to the occasion. After a sluggish start that may have cost them the game, Brooklyn woke up, driven by a bench squad headed by Smith Jr. They traded blows with the Denver Nuggets for the next three and a half quarters, right up until the final buzzer. The final score was 122-117 in favor of the Denver Nuggets.