Bucks, Nets play back end of home-and-home series

Kyrie Irving scored 28 and LeBron James 16 for the Cavs, who were outplayed for the second game in a row.

The Nets (5-13) entered the game with the worst point differential in the National Basketball Association in the third quarter this season (-7.4 points per game), and they were outscored 38-27 in that period by the Bucks to transform a one-point deficit at the half into a 90-78 hole entering the fourth.

In February 2016 the Nets opened HSS Training Center in Sunset Park, bringing all of the franchise’s basketball operations to the borough, making Brooklyn the team’s full-time home. Milwaukee’s run of strong play stretches six games to include four wins and tight losses to Golden State and Toronto, and it put everything together at both ends in the easy 111-93 triumph on Thursday. Sean Kilpatrick finished the game with 14 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists. They were even worse than that Thursday night at Barclays Center, hammered by the Bucks 38-27 in the third to turn a one-point nail biter into a 12-point deficit. He returned to his seat about midway through the third quarter when Milwaukee began surging ahead.

The Greek Giannis Antetokounmpo was born to Nigerian immigrants in Athens. The Bucks, however, would go on a 18-4 run which proved to be the backbreaker for Brooklyn. But the eye test has shown that defense betrayed by a stagnant offense. Down 17 with five minutes left: Game. Set. I think it’s great for a coach because they’ve just raised the bar. If you are not able to get it, I’m sorry for that.

“I thought it got a little sloppy”, Kidd said.

They also had 20 assists and 18 turnovers. Ugh.

Brook Lopez scored 15 points, Sean Kilpatrick had 14 and Bojan Bogdanovic added 13 for the Nets, who outlasted the Los Angeles Clippers in overtime on Tuesday and were trying to win consecutive games for the first time this season.

The Bucks hit 15 of 34 three-pointers and held Brooklyn to 30% on 12 of 40 attempts from distance.

THE Bucks squandered a double-digit lead in the second half but recovered to defeat the Brooklyn Nets, 112-103, on Saturday in Milwaukee (Sunday, Manila time) for their fourth straight win. But in the third quarter, those 3-pointers largely dry up.

Jabari Parker added 22 points for the Bucks as they improved under former Nets head coach Jason Kidd to 9-8 on the season.

Last game was a lot of fun.

However, as one global star heated up, the other stayed ice cold and Antetokounmpo helped push the Bucks ahead for much of the quarter.

Dellavedova has needed to change parts of his game and learn how to fit with his new teammates. Kilpatrick is getting a chance to start with Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (ankle) and Jeremy Lin (hamstring) out of the lineup and logged a team-high 47 minutes on Tuesday.

Donatas Motiejunas, the seven-foot Rockets big man, and his agent, B.J. Armstrong made it clear they either wanted a big deal from Houston or the freedom to find work elsewhere. BUZZER BEATERS1. The Nets are reportedly close to signing restricted free agent F Donatas Motiejunas to an offer sheet. 2.