Nets’ chances of getting No. 1 seed in Eastern Conference slipping away with season-high losing streak

Kyrie Irving thinks the Brooklyn Nets' season-high four-game losing streak might actually be a good thing.

The slide might ultimately strengthen their resolve later in the playoffs, However, in the short term, it threatens to torpedo the Nets' chances of getting the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.

Irving poured in a season-high 45 points Thursday, but Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks prevailed 113-109. The Nets fell 2½ games behind the Philadelphia 76ers for first place in the East with five left to play. Their hold on the second spot is tenuous too; the Nets are just a half-game ahead of the Milwaukee Bucks, who just clinched the tiebreaker between the teams with two wins over Brooklyn earlier this week.

"It's about time we got tested," Irving said. "I think it's good that we have these tests now, these challenges. It's been too easy at times. So it's good."

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Kyrie Irving on Nets’ recent play: It’s about time we got tested. pic.twitter.com/ZPhc0MfLba

Nets coach Steve Nash agreed and said it can be good for a team to feel pressure.

"You're going to face pressure in the playoffs and you have to be pressure-tested," Nash said. "This is a little bit of pressure for us, a little bit of a hole for us to dig out of. How can we solve this riddle? How can we get over the line in some of these games?"

Brooklyn has a favorable schedule down the stretch, with just one of their remaining five games against a team currently over .500. Philadelphia has an even easier schedule though, according to tankathon.com.

After another disappointing loss Thursday, the Nets said they just need to focus on detail and execution, especially in the fourth quarter.

"We need to be tested like that," Irving said. "We're not a perfect basketball club. I don't think we would be doing ourselves a great service if we weren't honest. We haven't played well in terms of spurts throughout the game, especially when it matters. We've just got to get better continuity down the stretch."

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