​The Brooklyn Nets were unable to keep their NBA 2K26 Summer League championship hopes alive on Thursday afternoon, falling 103-83 to the Houston Rockets at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas.Needing a win to remain in the hunt for a Summer League championship, Brooklyn instead ran into one of the tournament’s most physical teams. Houston set the tone from the opening tip with relentless defensive pressure, forcing turnovers and controlling the game for nearly all 40 minutes.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementFor the second straight game, every available Nets player was active. Houston also had its full Summer League roster available as both teams battled through an extremely physical contest that featured 59 total fouls.The game began with turnovers on each team’s opening possession before Mikel Brown Jr. buried a deep three-pointer to give Brooklyn an early 3-0 lead. The Rockets quickly answered, using an 11-0 run fueled by Quadir Copeland, Michael Foster Jr. and Isaiah Crawford to seize control.Brooklyn struggled to handle Houston’s ball pressure throughout the opening quarter, committing six turnovers while shooting just 4-of-16 (25%) from the field and 1-of-8 (12.5%) from beyond the arc. Egor Demin provided a few bright moments in transition and Chaney Johnson added a floater, but the Rockets closed the quarter on top 28-13.The Nets settled in during the second quarter, matching Houston point for point as both teams scored 21 points. Dain Dainja gave Brooklyn a spark with his activity around the basket, scoring on multiple putbacks while controlling the offensive glass. Tyler Bilodeau knocked down a three-pointer, Johnson added a lob dunk off a pass from Drake Powell, and Brown continued to attack the rim.Despite the improved offensive execution, Houston maintained a comfortable 49-34 halftime lead behind a balanced attack led by Bruce Thornton. The first half alone featured 33 fouls, as neither team backed down in what quickly became the most physical game of Brooklyn’s Summer League schedule.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHouston continued to control the action after halftime as Tristen Newton caught fire offensively, knocking down difficult jumpers while Thornton continued to pressure Brooklyn’s defense. A three-pointer from Copeland and another from Thornton capped an 8-0 Rockets run that pushed the lead beyond 20.Joshua Jefferson provided a late spark in the third quarter with back-to-back baskets. At the same time, Dainja continued his efficient afternoon inside, but Houston still entered the fourth quarter with a commanding 78-57 advantage.Brooklyn opened the final period with its best stretch of the afternoon. Brown knocked down a three-pointer before Demin connected from deep twice, and Bilodeau added five quick points during an 11-2 run that briefly cut into the deficit.The game became even more heated midway through the fourth quarter when Bilodeau and Crawford exchanged shoves following a physical play undernea