DETROIT — The Nets lost to the team everybody beats.
Brooklyn went into Detroit and blew a lead against the woebegone Pistons, falling 118-112 at Little Caesars Arena.
Despite Dennis Schroder’s 31 points and eight assists, the Nets couldn’t get support (leading scorer Mikal Bridges had just 13) or stops (allowing .518 percent shooting, and .400 from deep).
It was the worst possible start to a season-long six-game road trip.
The Pistons — who had earlier this season set a record for consecutive defeats — came in having dropped nine of their last ten.
But Thursday, Detroit (10-52) moved in double digits in victories thanks to the Nets.
Brooklyn (25-38) had won three of its last four — including rallying from eight points behind in the fourth quarter to beat Philadelphia on Tuesday.
But two nights later, they came up woefully short.
The Nets stumbled right out of the gate, seeming unfocused.
They let Detroit reel off the first 11 unanswered points, Cade Cunningham (32 points, 11 assists) finding Jaden Ivey (game-high 34) for a 3-pointer.
By the time Lonnie Walker IV (21 points) finally put Brooklyn on the scoreboard with a 3-pointer off a Bridges feed 4:27 in, they had already missed their first half-dozen shots and committed a couple of turnovers.
It was typical of the evening.
The deficit swelled to 26-8 on a floater by ex-Knick Evan Fournier.
Brooklyn did respond with the next 10 unanswered to get within 26-18 on a driving layup by Schroder.
And still down 49-43 with 3:21 in the half, the Nets closed on a 14-5 run to take a three-point edge into the locker room.
It was still 75-71 on Bridges’ cutting layup off a Schroder feed when the Nets gave up the momentum, and the lead for good.
Up by four with 3:51 remaining in the third quarter, they conceded a dozen unanswered points.
James Wiseman capped the run at the line, leaving Brooklyn down 83-75 with a minute remaining in the period.
The Nets never led again.
Brooklyn pulled into a 98-all tie with 6:32 left on Trendon Watford’s free throws, but couldn’t get over the hump.
They coughed up nine straight Pistons points to essentially put it away.
Trailing 116-112 in the waning seconds, Schroder’s missed floater iced it.