Nets answer Jordi Fernandez’s call and show fight in tough loss to Knicks

Jordi Fernandez couldn’t complain about the Nets’ fight Friday night.

In fact, he loved it. Consider his message received.

Two nights after the Nets’ new coach tore into his players for their effort in an ugly loss to the reigning champion Celtics, they responded with a gritty performance.

Playing without starting center Nic Claxton, who will be out for at least a week with a lower back strain, the Nets came all the way back from a 21-point, third-quarter deficit in their first of four meetings with the rival Knicks at the Garden.

Ultimately, the comeback fell short because Knicks star Jalen Brunson hit a game-winning 3-pointer with six seconds to go and former Net Mikal Bridges blocked Dennis Schroder’s driving layup at the horn.

But it didn’t impact how Fernandez felt about his team after this heartbreaking 124-122 setback to the Knicks in an NBA Cup game.