Rockets launch past winless Nets

Former Net Kevin Durant and the Rockets had their way Monday night, handing Brooklyn its fourth straight loss to start the season. AP Photo by Karen Warren

The Brooklyn Nets finished off a fruitless Texas two-step with their most lopsided loss of a thus-far winless season.

And coach Jordi Fernández implored his struggling unit to look within itself for answers.

“The energy that we’ve had at times .. I need consistency and urgency,” he insisted following Monday night’s 137-109 defeat to the Rockets in front of 18,055 fans at Houston’s Toyota Center.

“That’s not something that we can decide to have or not,” he added.

Equipped with the youngest roster in the NBA and asked to oversee this massive Brooklyn rebuild, Fernández can only watch from the bench as the Nets (0-4) struggle to keep up with their opponents.

Tari Eason drained a career-high five 3-pointers en route to 22 points and Turkish center Alperin Sengun added 21 on 7-of-11 shooting as the Rockets ended a season-opening two-game slide by extending the Nets’ early-season miseries.

Houston (1-2) burst out of the gate with 42 points in the opening period.

Though the Rockets let the Nets get back within 11 points at intermission, they quickly outscored them 32-17 in the third quarter to settle matters.

Former Net Kevin Durant poured in 19 points for Houston, which led by as many as 33 while hitting half of its 32 3-point attempts and turning 14 Brooklyn turnovers into 23 points.

The Nets played better in Sunday afternoon’s 118-107 loss to San Antonio in the opener of this trip, marking the only time in these first four contests that they’ve yielded less than 130 points.

Brooklyn Nets forward Michael Porter Jr. (17) controls the ball against Houston Rockets forward Jabari Smith Jr. (10) during the first half of an NBA basketball game, Monday, Oct. 27, 2025, in Houston. (AP Photo/Karen Warren) Michael Porter Jr. scored 18 points on 8-of-13 shooting, but the Nets remained winless in Houston on Monday. AP Photo by Karen Warren

Fernández’s desire for more “urgency” is an indictment of how poorly the Nets have begun games and come out of halftime.

“It’s a matter of who we want to be. Giving up 42 to start … this is unacceptable to take an NBA game for granted,” he said.

“The beginning of the third hasn’t been good, so that’s going to be addressed,” Fernández added. “Once again, it’s just a level of attention to detail, and to go there and put possessions together on both ends of the floor, and just be better.”

Terance Mann did his best to keep the Nets within range by putting up 21 points.

Michael Porter Jr. added 18 on 8-of-13 shooting for Brooklyn, which is allowing an NBA-high 128.3 points per game and ranks second-worst with a -12.3 differential.

Cam Thomas, who put up 40 points in San Antonio and 33 while dishing out nine assists in last Friday’s home opener against Cleveland, was limited to only nine points on 3-of-9 shooting in Houston.

Day’Ron Sharpe provided hope off the bench with 17 points on 6-of-17 shooting to go with a game-high 12 rebounds.

Ben Saraf started and had six points and five assists and Nolan Traore added four points off the bench to account for Brooklyn’s rookie class contributions.

Fernández is hoping for better results Wednesday night, when the Nets open a three-game homestand vs. Atlanta.

“Our guys are trying,” he ceded. “But they just don’t know how much harder and focused they can do things. I believe they will keep taking those steps, just a lack of experience.”

Tip-off against the Hawks is slated for 7:30 p.m.

The game will air locally on the YES Network.

Brooklyn Nets' Egor Dëmin (8) looks to pass during the second half of an NBA basketball game against the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday, Oct. 24, 2025, at Barclays Center in New York. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II) The Nets hope to have rookie Egor Dёmin back on Wednesday, when they open a three-game homestand vs. Atlanta at Barclays Center. AP Photo by Karen Warren

NOTHING BUT NET: Eighth overall pick Egor Dёmin sat out his first game of the year due to a sore foot. The Nets will be sending his fellow first-rounders, Drake Powell and Danny Wolf, to Long Island so they can begin practicing with the organization’s G-League affiliate this week. Dёmin should be back in action Wednesday. He likely would have suited up against the Rockets if the Nets weren’t playing back-to-backs. … Veteran forward Ziaire Williams missed the game in Houston with a bad back after taking a hard fall in San Antonio. … After hosting the Hawks, the Nets will welcome Philadelphia to Barclays Center on Sunday and Minnesota on Monday.