Nets players insist winning is still goal, not tanking with season nearing end

For much of the past month, the Nets have been jockeying for any one of five positions going into the lottery — fifth, tied for fifth, sixth, tied for sixth or seventh.But with just six games left, they seem destined for the middle of that pack.The Nets sit in sixth, three games ahead of seventh-placed Toronto, whom they host Sunday.

They’re two games ahead of Philadelphia, who’ve dropped nine straight and are in a 3-24 rut, determined not to win again.Meanwhile, with Brooklyn trying to build a culture and add a high draft pick, the Nets players insist they won’t sacrifice wins for draft position.“If anything, it’s [made me] want to win even more, just to prove all the whoever wrong,” Ziaire Williams said.“Even now there hasn’t been one game where we’ve purposely tried to lose, or thinking we’re going to lose.

We want to win every game.And we’ve got a competitive group, a group that loves each other and wants to win every night.“You’ve gotta build those habits.

You see the same teams losing every year because they’re just not playing with winning habits.You’ve always got to do the right things to win, whether you want a pick or not.

I feel like that’s the [right way].The basketball gods are going to bless you if you’re doing the right thing.

So it’s the same approach.And every game is still fun.

Of course our record isn’t what we want it to be, but we’ve learned a lot this year, and it’ll be even better next year.”Noah Clowney has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a right ankle sprain.Still in a boot, he’ll finish his sophomore season averaging 9.1 points and 3.9 rebounds, but shooting just 35.8 percent overall.Day’Ron Sharpe is out against Minnesota with a right knee sprain and will be reevaluated.

Cam Johnson is out with a lower back contusion after a hard fall.That leaves Williams and newly added Drew Timme as the only bigs behind Nic Claxton.“It’s a good challenge for me.Guys see my frame...