Seth Wenig/Associated Press
Paul Pierce, center, started for the Nets after coming off the bench in several recent games.
In a week when their tumultuous season may have reached its lowest point — a week marred by back-to-back 17-point losses, a season-ending injury to the All-Star center Brook Lopez and reports of locker-room turmoil — the Nets finished a three-game home stand by showing a glimpse of the play that many had envisioned when they talked of a title contender budding in Brooklyn.
"Losing is not something that we're getting comfortable with," Kevin Garnett said Friday after a 104-93 victory at home over the Milwaukee Bucks. "Tonight was definitely, Come out here, let's get a win, try and change this momentum around here."
The good vibes from the victory may not last long. On Saturday, the Nets (10-19) begin a three-game trip that will pit them against a series of teams — Indiana, San Antonio and Oklahoma City — that have proved themselves contenders. Before Friday's game, the Nets also announced that Andray Blatche would miss the next three games.
Coach Jason Kidd said that Blatche was out for "personal reasons" and that he would not accompany the team on the trip.
Despite the uninspiring play of the Nets and the Knicks this season, there are teams outside New York that are playing even worse. The Bucks, who have the league's worst record at 6-23, shot 37.5 percent from the field.
Milwaukee proved to be a remedy for the Nets' recent woes. After Lopez broke his right foot last Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers, the Nets entered the week facing a daunting challenge. The Eastern Conference-leading Pacers came first, easily defeating the Nets at Barclays Center, 103-86. Afterward, Kidd said his team was reaching a point where it seemed to accept losing.
"When things get tough, do we just give in? Most of the time, right now, we do," he said.
Two days later, on Christmas, the Nets were outplayed by the Chicago Bulls on national television, 95-78. The Bulls, another preseason pick to be a contender, have been decimated by injuries, but they out-hustled the Nets much as they did in last season's first-round playoff victory. After the loss, Deron Williams called the season a "nightmare." The following day, reports surfaced that Kidd and Kevin Garnett had voiced their displeasure in the locker room.
Before Friday's game, Kidd clarified his message. "It wasn't to call them out," Kidd said. "It was just a conversation in the locker room that we've got to compete."
Garnett said he did not want to share what had been said after the Chicago loss. "That has nothing to do with anybody here," he said. "That was a personal thing that I had with the team, and I want to keep it personal."
In the short term, the messages resonated with the players, who make up a $190 million roster.
The Nets played their 13th starting lineup Friday, adding the reserve point guard Shaun Livingston — who led the team with 20 points — to the backcourt alongside Deron Williams. Paul Pierce, who played seven of the last eight games coming off the bench, started in the frontcourt along with Joe Johnson and Garnett. Kidd said he had been looking for a more energetic lineup.
The revamping of the starting five paid off immediately, as the Nets took a 31-18 lead after the first quarter. Livingston and Williams combined for 11 of the Nets' first 15 points, while their smaller defensive lineup held the Bucks to 29.2 percent shooting.
"I thought it was the first quarter that really buried us and set the tone," Bucks Coach Larry Drew said.
Mirza Teletovic, who had started the last three games for Brooklyn, added five 3-pointers and scored a career-high 19 points.
Trailing by as many as 23 points in the fourth quarter, the Bucks were able to cut the Nets' lead to 88-79 on two free throws by Giannis Antetokounmpo with 3 minutes 2 seconds remaining. Kidd soon reinserted Williams, who had rested along with Garnett for the entire quarter.
With 1:03 remaining, Williams drew a charge on Milwaukee's Khris Middleton to seal the victory. Williams left the game and was greeted by celebrating teammates on the bench.
Whether the good times continue may hinge on whether the Nets have finally heeded their coach's message or just ran into a team on Friday that is having a worse season than they are.
Garnett, the player many expected to be the vocal leader of this team, said the Nets had displayed the fight and belief he expected of them.
"I wouldn't show up," he said, "if I didn't."
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