With the NBA on hiatus and New York continuing its battle against the novel coronavirus outbreak, Brooklyn Nets games will not be played for the foreseeable future.
For the Nets, as much as any team, this comes at an odd time — Brooklyn was battling the Orlando Magic for the seventh spot in the Eastern Conference standings. At the stoppage of play, the Nets had a half-game advantage over the Magic.
Since there aren’t any games, each day Nets Wire will highlight impressive individual performances and major moments throughout Nets history:
The Nets have only played three games on May 3 in the history of the franchise — and never won.
In 1984, Darryl Dawkins scored 31 points and grabbed 10 rebounds in the third game of the 1984 Eastern Conference Semifinals, which New Jersey lost 100-93 to the Milwaukee Bucks (full box score).
Fast-forward 15 years and the Nets were playing their second-to-last game of the abbreviated 1998-99 NBA season. New Jersey was well out of playoff contention, ranked last in the Eastern Conference heading into their matchup with the Washington Wizards.
Stephon Marbury scored 37 points and had 10 assists, Kendall Gill finished with 18 points, eight assists and five steals, and Jamie Feick grabbed 19 rebounds to set a career-high (which he would break in the 1999-00 season) — but it was all for naught. The Nets lost 102-113 (full box score).
The last time the Nets played on May 3 came in 2004, when they started the Eastern Conference Semifinals against the Detroit Pistons.
Only two Nets — Kenyon Martin and Kerry Kittles — finished in double figures. They combined for 25 points as New Jersey lost Game 1 78-56 (full box score).