Nets Notes: Claxton, Thomas, Slump, Finney-Smith

The Nets suffered a 16-point loss to Oklahoma City on Sunday and big man Nic Claxton admits frustration is setting in, Brian Lewis of the New York Post reports. Brooklyn has lost three straight and eight of its last 10, with the two victories coming against the East’s worst team, Detroit.

“We’re definitely frustrated. Nobody wants to lose. I hate losing, everybody hates losing,” Claxton said. “We just got to figure it out. We just can’t get used to losing. Need to figure out solutions and figure out ways to fix it.”

We have more on the Nets:

• Cam Thomas‘ defensive shortcomings have cost him a spot in the starting lineup. Thomas was moved to the second unit and produced 20 points against the Thunder. The high-scoring guard is trying to take a positive approach.  “At the end of the day, I want to start. But for what the team needs, I’ve got to come off the bench, whether it’s sixth or seventh man, come in and bring energy,” Thomas told Lewis. “So just not getting down, just staying positive and keep my energy high.”
• Head coach Jacque Vaughn said that togetherness will help the team break out of its slump, Lewis tweets. “We need each other. I’m not a Hall of Fame coach and we have no All-Stars on our team,” he said. “And so this is a collective group that has to play together on every single night and we’ll continue to grasp that ideal. But that’s the challenge for this group.”
• Dorian Finney-Smith (left knee soreness) is listed as probable to play on Tuesday at New Orleans but Lonnie Walker (left hamstring strain) remains out, Lewis tweets.
• In case you missed it, the team is being investigated by the NBA for possible load management violations after several key players sat out against Milwaukee on Wednesday.