Nets’ Jordi Fernandez Comes Close, But Fails To Take Down Former Team In Nuggets

For Jordi Fernandez, Tuesday’s home game against the Nuggets was a poignant moment — a chance to face the team he once called home. Unfortunately for his Nets, it turned into a painful reminder of the hurdles they still need to overcome, as they let a 17-point lead slip away, falling 144-139 in overtime at Barclays Center.

The Nets (1-3) had all the momentum early on, fueled by Cam Thomas‘ team-high 26 points, but they lost their grip when it mattered most. After Thomas kicked off the overtime scoring, Brooklyn allowed the Nuggets to rally, with Nikola Jokic once again proving he’s the man of the hour.

Jokic’s triple-double — 29 points, 18 rebounds, and 16 assists — was pivotal as he tied the game with crucial free throws and later converted a put-back, showing why he’s the reigning MVP.

“With a special player, you’ve got to show him different looks,” Fernandez said of Jokic, via Brian Lewis of the New York Post. “He can score, he can assist, and he controls the whole game.”

As for facing Nuggets coach Michael Malone, Fernedez admitted this one was special. He spent six years as an assistant with Malone in Denver and owns a championship ring because of it.

“When you play against somebody that you know and have a lot of respect for, it gets better and better as a true competitor because there’s a relationship, there’s a respect. And for me, it’s a special game,” Fernandez said. 

“But it’s not about me. … Players win games, players play basketball games, and the rest of my team, probably for them, it’s another rival team with very good players that we want to present a challenge. We want to win the game.”