DLo and Nick both came back tonight (both with minutes restrictions) and it certainly helps a lot with our rotations and certain players not having to overextend themselves (JC and BI in particular). As we have seen all year, we put ourselves into a hole (this time to end the 3rd) with inconsistent defending and silly live ball turnovers and then dig ourselves out...we came back to take the lead and then Jennings hits 2 contested 3's, Lou turns the ball over leading to an and-1 for Lee, and immediately the game is back to 8 with 6 to play and our margin for error becomes razor thin. We get the game back to 4 on a Deng and-1 (who had by far his best game of the year, hopefully it's what he needed to regain confidence in his jumper) but then again, contested jumpers by Jennings and Rose.

In the end, when you give up 70 points to a combination of Rose/Jennings/Porzingis, it's going to be a tough game. Unlike the 3 games prior, I though the rotations were pretty good and we forced a lot of 1v1 play and contested shots...frustrating that NY was able to convert but that's how the game goes sometimes.

These injuries and subsequent losing streak have really dented our playoff hopes (albeit Portland isn't playing all that well either) so now each of these winnable games that we don't win becomes magnified. Regardless, much better style of play tonight and hopefully we can end this streak vs Sac tmrw and pick up some wins against lesser teams.