Patty Mills bagged 16 points off the bench but wasn't able to lift a depleted San Antonio Spurs to victory over the Brooklyn Nets in New York on Thursday night.
A day after playing a key role in the Spurs' double-overtime NBA win over the Washington Wizards, the Australian guard couldn't get his side - missing their top four scorers - over the line as the Nets triumphed 103-89.
Without Tony Parker, Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Kawhi Leonard, the Spurs were within five points early in the fourth quarter before the Nets pulled away.
Alan Anderson scored 22 points to lead the way for the Nets, while Deron Williams finished with 16 points and eight assists for the Nets, who had lost their last six encounters with the Spurs.
Cory Joseph led San Antonio with 18 points, while Danny Green netted 17 points.
The Spurs' three-game winning streak was snapped and the defeat marked their first setback on their nine-game Rodeo road-trip.
They still have six games remaining before returning home.
Anderson scored the final nine points of the third quarter for Brooklyn, helping the Nets take a 75-68 lead into the final period.
Anderson then opened the fourth-quarter scoring for Brooklyn after a pair of free throws from Joseph. Andrei Kirilenko threw down a dunk to stretch Brooklyn's lead to 84-74.
The Spurs, who led 24-17 after the first quarter, seemed to tire down the stretch and Brooklyn pulled away.
