The Nets extended their losing streak to five straight 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 while 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 Wembenyama, Brooklyn coughed up .553 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.
The Nets were in contact midway through the third quarter when they allowed an extended 26-8 Spurs run.
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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.
Brooklyn (21-40) stayed 2 ½ 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 and Dariq Whitehead were back from ankle and knee injuries, respectively. Russell started and finished with a dozen points and four assists.
De’Anthony Melton (torn ACL) and Noah Clowney (ankle) were both out for the Nets Tuesday in San Antonio. Two-way Tovan 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.
Brooklyn has signed guard Tyson Etienne to a two-way contract Tuesday from their G League affiliate Long Island.
In a corresponding move, the Nets waived two-way forward Kendall Brown, who becomes an unrestricted free agent.
The call-up marks the fifth for Brooklyn this season, and the first for the 6-foot-2, 200 lb. Etienne.
The 25-year-old Englewood (NJ) native is one of the best shooters in the G League, and now will get his chance at the NBA level down the stretch for a clearly-rebuilding Brooklyn 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 eight in 3-point percentage.
Point guard Killian Hayes had started the past five straight games for Brooklyn while on a 10-day contract, but did not get a second 10-day.
It is still unclear if the 23-year-old will return to Long Island.