How would the Nets respond after a lackluster defensive effort in Wednesday’s season opener at Charlotte? Early on, it was hardly the start head coach Jordi Fernández had hoped for. Down the stretch, it was too little and too late, even as Brooklyn nearly pulled off an improbable 25-point comeback.

Despite an inspired fourth-quarter rally, the Nets came up just short, falling to 0-2 on the young season after a 131-124 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers Friday at Barclays Center. Rookies Drake Powell and Danny Wolf sat out as they continue to recover from ankle injuries, but depth wasn’t the issue. For the second straight outing, early lapses in effort and defensive communication put Brooklyn in a hole it couldn’t quite climb out of.

The Cavaliers opened the night hitting six of their fi

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