A drummer shouted across the arena – possibly to a team of break dancers – “You all look crazy.” In previous years, his vote would not have gone so far.
Shortly before the tip, the Nets debuted a video in which players spoke the lyrics to the Bill Withers classic “Ain’t No Sunshine,” dedicated to absent fans. Then Nets guard Kyrie Irving waved to the crowd on both sides of the field; in an arena of hundreds rather than thousands of people, fans might be forgiven for thinking Irving waved at them individually.
“It felt like you were sitting in your living room,” said Dylan Schultz, 27. “I’m alone with my boyfriend. Not too many people around me. But there is still this environment of the game right in front of you. hear each other talk. Sick. “
Some in the building tried to perpetuate traditions, such as attempts to interrupt the opponent’s free throw. On Tuesday, that effort – normally taken by thousands of screaming and waving fans – fell to four drummers behind the basket, occasionally joined by the five dancers. (Statistically, they could claim success: The Kings shot 13 of the 19 off the line, slightly below their seasonal average.)
As for the game itself, the Nets performed the most, winning their seventh consecutive series, 127-118. Bruce Brown, the starting guard, got a rare turn in the spotlight, scoring 29 points, as did James Harden, who had a triple-double: 29 points, 11 rebounds and 14 assists.
For the most part, the crowd – spread across court seats, luxury suites, and the lower level – remained subdued, despite the most hyped Nets team in years watching in person.
“It feels like you’re watching a practice session,” says Rich Schaefer, 42, a season ticket holder. “You’re in a high school gym and no one is there. But you look at the best players in the world. It’s not the same energy you get during sold-out games. But there is an incredible thing, as a basketball fan, to see and hear everyone talk and not be distracted by what is going on around you. “