The Nets extended their losing streak to five games, falling 127-113 in San Antonio on Tuesday night.
Cam Thomas led the Nets with 24 points and six assists, both team highs.
Cam Johnson scored 17, and Trendon Watford added 12 points, 10 rebounds, five assists and three steals off the bench, his first double-double of the season and second as a Net.
But none of that could overcome sieve-like defense.
Despite not having to face injured Victor Wembanyama, the Nets allowed 55.3 percent shooting — their fourth-worst mark of the season.
San Antonio’s Devin Vassell lit them up for a game-high 37 points and 10 rebounds, both season highs.
He hit eight 3-pointers.
“Our defense was not good enough, and that’s what we have to embrace right now,” Jordi Fernandez told reporters after watching his Nets concede 62 points in the paint and allow Vassell to shoot an all-too-easy 14-for-19.
The Nets were in striking distance midway through the third quarter before they allowed a 26-8 Spurs run.
After Stephon Castle’s dunk left them down 95-70 with 1:46 left in the period, the rest of the night was garbage time.
“[Vassell] just plays simple basketball. And obviously it was not fun to watch for me,” Fernandez said. “We should’ve been better, get him off the 3-point line, make him dribble more, maybe we get him in trouble. But we were not able to do it. So once again, our defense has got to be challenged. We have to be better.”
The Nets (21-40) stayed 2 ¹/₂ games behind Chicago for the final play-in spot in the Eastern Conference.
They also remained tied with Philadelphia for the sixth-best odds in the lottery, with both the Bulls and 76ers falling Tuesday.
The Nets pulled within 1 ¹/₂ games of Toronto for fifth in the lottery odds after the Raptors victory.
D’Angelo Russell (ankle) and Dariq Whitehead (knee) were back from injuries.
Russell started and finished with 12 points and four assists.
De’Anthony Melton (torn ACL) and Noah Clowney (ankle) were both out.
Two-way Tosan Evbuomwan was with G-League Long Island.
Wembanyama was out for the Spurs, along with Charles Bassey (knee) and Riley Minix (left shoulder). Stephon Castle (thumb) was listed as questionable but played, scoring 17 off the bench.
The Nets signed guard Tyson Etienne to a two-way contract Tuesday from their G-League affiliate Long Island.
In a corresponding move, they waived two-way forward Kendall Brown, who becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The call-up marks the fifth for the Nets this season, and the first for the 6-foot-2 Etienne.
The 25-year-old Englewood, N.J., native is one of the best shooters in the G-League, and will get his chance at the NBA level down the stretch for a rebuilding Nets team.
Etienne averaged 20.0 points on .506 percent shooting in 25 starts for Long Island, hitting .475 from deep.
He currently leads the G-League in 3-pointers (84) and is eighth in 3-point percentage.
Point guard Killian Hayes started the five previous games for Brooklyn while on a 10-day contract, but did not get a second 10-day.
It is unclear if the 23-year-old will return to Long Island.
