Nets' Mikal Bridges 'not a fan' of limited playing time vs. Bucks - ESPN

Brooklyn Nets star Mikal Bridges was «not a fan» of the team's conservative approach against the Milwaukee Bucks, saying he didn't like the decision to severely limit his playing time.

Less than 24 hours after a hard-fought victory over the Detroit Pistons, the Nets rested three starters and barely played several other key players — including Bridges — in Wednesday's 144-122 home loss to the Bucks.

Bridges started the game and played the entire first quarter but did not play at all over the final 36 minutes. The six-year veteran played 40 minutes Tuesday against Detroit but told the New York Post that he «never» needs to rest.

«Didn't like the choice and whatever that was,» Bridges told the Post. «But it's whatever. Definitely was not a fan.»

The Nets announced Wednesday afternoon that starters Spencer Dinwiddie, Nic Claxton and Cameron Johnson would be rested against the Bucks. Key reserve Dorian Finney-Smith, who played the entire fourth quarter Tuesday, also was ruled out later Wednesday.

Bridges and Cam Thomas, the Nets' leading scorer, both started the game, along with Royce O'Neale, Dennis Smith Jr. and Day'Ron Sharpe. Thomas and O'Neale also did not reenter the game after the first quarter, as the Nets' rotation over the final three quarters featured a number of rookies and players on two-way contracts.

With the Nets returning from a five-game road trip before Christmas, finishing their second set of back-to-back games since and facing another four-game trip later this week, coach Jacque Vaughn cited the heavy workload when explaining the decision to rest the players, saying he would be putting them «in harm's way» if they didn't get a break.

Bettors spotted a potential edge early Wednesday when the Nets released