Devin Harris was back bouncing around, getting into the lane, crossing over, freezing defenders, setting up teammates and even threw down a driving dunk for good measure.

The groin that kept him out 10 games was fine. His legs were a little tired, but they should come around.

The Nets' first win –- that’s still on hold.

Harris’ impressive return wasn’t enough to end the Nets’ 12-game season-opening losing streak. It became an unlucky 13 after a 98-91 loss to the almost equally lowly Knicks today, another game that was winnable for the Nets.

You at least see how the offense can be different with Harris, how they can get easier baskets. He wore down a little, but his 12 points and seven assists in 26 minutes helped put the Nets in position to snap the skid. You wonder how many more losses coach Lawrence Frank can take.

Maybe things will be different when the Nets get more players back, but they just don’t know how to win yet. After being down 15 in the third, they forged back. Six times in the fourth, it was a one-possession game. But the Nets never tied the score or took the lead.

They tried too hard to hit the home run. Three times they took threes -- two by rookie Terrence Williams and one by Rafer Alston -- and twice it would have given the Nets the lead. You like their aggressiveness, but an easier shot would have better. They were 4-of-18 for the game and 2-of-7 in the fourth period.

“As a team, we have to learn how to win those close games,” Harris said. “It looks like we’re going to play in a lot of them. We’re young but we’ve got to find a way to win it whether it be [on] defense or scoring the ball. We’re not doing both right now. We’re not scoring late in the game, and we’re giving up shots. Something’s got to give in that department.”

When Harris talked to the media yesterday after practice, he discussed the moment of truth, the last six minutes of the game and how hopefully he would help the Nets get over the hump.

You couldn’t expect everything from him, but he did hit a jumper just before the 6-minute mark that brought the Nets within two. But the Nets couldn’t finish the game.

They were 5-of-11 from the field and 1-of-2 from the line. The Knicks were 4-of-6 from the line and 6-of-9 from the floor. Two of the three misses resulted in put-backs –- another game where offensive rebounds crushed the Nets.

“Nobody wants to start 0-and-whatever-it-is,” Harris said. “What hurts more is so many close games we’re losing. If we were getting blown out every game, I think everybody would be like, ‘OK, we need to change something up.’ But we’re right there each and every game. We’ve just got to find a way to overcome the last six minutes.

“We have to look at that period of time at what we’re doing, what we can change and how we can get better.”

When Harris gets better, he should be able to help the Nets in those situations. But these losses are taking their toll on everyone. Harris was asked what it’s going to take the Nets to get out of this mess.

“Persistence,” he said. “Learn from our mistakes. Try not to turn the ball over. Get some healthy bodies back.”

Harris is the first. Courtney Lee should be next. Down the line, maybe the Nets won’t make the same mistakes. Maybe they’ll win some of these close games with a full complement of players or at least once Harris can play more, do more and rebuild chemistry with his teammates.

In the meantime, the Nets remain the only winless team, four losses shy of tying the NBA’s record for futility, and are embarking on a four-game West Coast trip on Monday. That mark seems to be in trouble.

Al Iannazzone covers the Nets for The Record (Bergen County, N.J.)