As the New Jersey Nets prepare to play the Sacramento Kings on Friday night -- probably their last and best chance (because they play the Lakers next) to avoid tying the NBA record of 17 consecutive losses to start a season -- it's worthwhile to take a look back at this Noxious November and point out three games that got away.

Opening night: Timberwolves 95, Nets 93

The Nets were ahead by as many as 19 points and were still up by 16 with less than seven minutes to play, but Minnesota closed the game with a 24-6 run, including a putback by Damien Wilkins at the buzzer. New Jersey made just one field goal, committed five turnovers and surrendered seven offensive rebounds to Minnesota during those last few minutes. The 1-14 Timberwolves haven't won since, and nine of their past 10 losses have been by at least 10 points.

Nov. 14: Heat 81, Nets 80

Quentin Richardson banked in a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to tie the game, Brook Lopez made it 80-78 on a tip-in with 4.1 seconds left and Dwyane Wade hit a turnaround 3-pointer off an inbounds play, the ball passing through the net with one-tenth of a second left to win it. Frank could be second-guessed for not putting a second defender on Wade to force someone else to take the last shot, but Trenton Hassell had held Wade without a field goal since the 1:22 mark of the second quarter, so he got the single-coverage assignment and didn't swipe at the ball when Wade bobbled it before sinking the dagger.

Nov. 18: Bucks 99, Nets 85

Rookie Terrence Williams was on fire, hitting his final seven shots of the first half as New Jersey went to the locker room with a 48-41 lead. But rather than stick with the hot hand, Frank told the rest of the team at halftime to feed off the example being set by Williams. Bad idea. Milwaukee opened the second half with a 15-2 run before Frank put Williams back in with 6:35 remaining in the third quarter, and the rookie shot 0-for-6 the rest of the way.

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