The Nets have been open about how necessary — make that important — this season-long seven-game homestand is. And so they tipped it off in fashion Sunday.
Seth Curry and the Nets wore down the Path Blazers within the fourth quarter for a 111-97 victory earlier than a sellout crowd of 17,732 at Barclays Heart.
“We saved utilizing the phrase aggressive in any kind of timeout or gathering collectively,” coach Jacque Vaughn stated. “We wish to be the aggressors on each possession.
“Going into the fourth, up 4, what was our mindset going to be? Have been we going to be locked-in every possession? The group that began the fourth began out taking part in very effectively, pushing the tempo, rebounding the ball; the group that completed did the identical factor. The mentality, are available able to play, locked-in fourth quarter, let’s get a win.”
Brooklyn (10-11) obtained that win. And whereas Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving had been strong as traditional, it was Curry’s 29 factors off the bench and end-of-game protection that stole the present.
After being slowed by Portland’s zone defenses, the Nets outscored the Path Blazers, 27-17 within the fourth quarter. Curry had 13 by himself within the closing interval, on 3 of 5 from behind the arc.
After permitting 51.2 p.c capturing — 8 of 18 from deep — within the first half, the Nets turned the screws to carry Portland to six of 19 within the fourth, 2 of seven from past the arc.
“Our protection got here to play within the second half,” stated Durant, who had 31 factors to complete plus-21, each game-highs. “Our protection gained this sport.”
And that protection fueled the Nets’ offense.
Getting stops let Irving (22 factors) and Ben Simmons (12 rebounds, eight assists) get out and push the tempo earlier than Portland may arrange the zone.
“We had been capable of stretch the lead behind Seth and his unbelievable offense that he offered for us,” Durant stated. “That was a backbreaker … seeing Seth come off the bench and get virtually 30.”
Curry — hopeful of taking part in Monday versus Orlando — had his highest-scoring sport since becoming a member of the Nets, and his seven 3s tied his most for the franchise.
“I all the time really feel like, if I get good photographs, I’m going to make them at a excessive clip. Only a matter of what our offense is trying like, how I’m shifting, my rhythm,” Curry stated. “Our offense was flowing. Guys discovered me early on. … So it felt fairly good. Aggressive, simply tried to assault off the bounce once I may and hunt photographs for myself. My large night time was a product of the best way we had been taking part in offense.”
The final time the Nets had confronted the Path Blazers, on Nov. 17 in Portland, they’d earned their greatest victory of the season in opposition to the then Western Convention leaders.
Since then, Portland (11-9) has misplaced 5 of six, and it misplaced star Damian Lillard to damage, too.
The sport was knotted at 74-all with 4:21 left within the third on a dunk from Jerami Grant (team-high 29 factors). However the Nets reeled off six unanswered factors to take the lead for good. Durant hit a 12-foot pull-up, and after forcing a miss from Anfernee Simons (4 of 14), struggling Joe Harris transformed a four-point play to go up 80-74 with 3:05 to go within the third.
When the lead was lower to 1, Curry answered with a jumper. After they had been clinging to a tenuous 89-87 edge, after a putback by Jusuf Nurkic (17 factors, 14 boards) with 6:45 to play, Curry sparked a 7-0 run.
He sandwiched 3s round a Royce O’Neale free throw to place the Nets forward, 96-87. Fittingly, it was Curry who pushed the result in 15 on a layup within the closing minute.
“It’s enjoyable to see, particularly once they go in. You see the arrogance he has in his shot and the rhythm he’s beginning to regain from not taking part in and having offseason surgical procedure,” Vaughn stated. “It provides a dynamic to our group due to the tempo we will play with. If you wish to double-team Ky or Kevin, there’s some guys on the precise facet than can actually shoot the basketball.”
Post a Comment