Nets fall to 0-3 as struggles mount, Atlantic Division roundup

The pressure is already mounting in Brooklyn. The Nets were blown out 136-109 by the Indiana Pacers on Monday, dropping to 0-3 and sinking to the bottom of the Atlantic Division. At the top, the Philadelphia 76ers took their first loss but still lead the group, while the Toronto Raptors are already managing Kawhi Leonard’s workload, according to Sportsnet.

Brooklyn Nets: winless and searching

Monday’s 136-109 loss in Indiana was another lopsided night for Brooklyn, which remains without a win at 0-3. That puts the Nets in an early hole in a competitive Atlantic. Hoops Rumors also flagged Brooklyn’s backcourt in its latest Atlantic Notes, though without specifying what changes might be coming.

Philadelphia 76ers: first setback for the early leader

Despite a 106-93 defeat in Detroit, the 76ers sit atop the Atlantic at 3-1, still the only team in the division with three victories. Off the court, Hoops Rumors notes that the back and forth between ex-Celtic and current Sixers wing Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum continues to draw attention. Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla, per Hoops Rumors, said he’ll always appreciate what Brown did for Boston but is focused on the present rather than the past.

Toronto Raptors: early load management for Kawhi Leonard

Toronto took its first loss of the season, falling 117-94 to the Minnesota Timberwolves, but remains well positioned at 2-1. According to Sportsnet, as relayed by Hoops Rumors, Kawhi Leonard will miss his first game of the year due to swelling in his left knee, after being limited to between 23 and 27 minutes in the Raptors’ first two contests. He scored 16 points on 7-of-20 shooting in one of those outings. Leonard’s health and minute management already look like key early-season storylines.

Boston Celtics and New York Knicks: drama off the court

The Celtics (1-1) had the night off but still found themselves in the headlines. CBS Sports highlighted Jaylen Brown’s insistence that he has “no beef” with former teammate Jayson Tatum, while still playfully keeping a “lamb chop” reference between the two alive.

For the Knicks (0-3), attention shifts to a troubling injury from their most recent outing. Hoops Rumors and CBS Sports report that Jalen Suggs suffered a scary non-contact right knee injury during the Magic’s win over New York on Sunday, with his knee buckling on a transition layup attempt before he was helped off the floor and taken to the locker room.

Behind the scenes, Hoops Rumors also passes along that former NBA guard and longtime “Inside the NBA” analyst Kenny Smith has joined a prospective ownership group led by Marc Lasry and Steve Apostolopoulos. According to Chris Haynes, that group remains in contention for an unspecified opportunity.