The Nets needed a win to get back on track and they did just that against one of the NBA’s best teams.
Brooklyn Nets guard D’Angelo Russell(Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Offense was hard to come by lately for Brooklyn, they struggled mightily against the Milwaukee Bucks on Monday night. The Nets shot 5-for-42 from the three-point line and 32 percent from the field. Their previous game, last Saturday night at Orlando, wasn’t much better. Brooklyn turned the ball over 19 times while only shooting 36 percent from the field.
With the offense struggling to put up points, it’s only right that one of the league’s top teams happens to be next on the schedule. The Denver Nuggets have seven players on their roster averaging double figures in points per game. They can fill up the basket in a hurry, led by All-Star Nikola Jokic.
But if there’s one thing which stood out during Brooklyn’s 20-6 stretch, which helped turn their season around, it’s their resiliency. They were able to recover from an early 14-point hole and hold on to edge the Nuggets, 135-130, Wednesday night at Barclays Center.
The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Nets and gave them plenty to feel good about afterwards. Here’s what went right for them:
The return of ball movement. The Nets racked up a season-high 36 team assists. This means the ball wasn’t sticking which was a concern during their losing streak. D’Angelo Russell and Shabazz Napier did a great job running the offense with 11 assists each. The ball either found its way into the post or to a teammate for the three-point shot. They Nets shot 19-for-34 from the three-point line against the Nuggets. That’s night and day compared to their previous game. Brooklyn also scored 23 fast break points.
During the #Nets 3-game losing streak, Kenny Atkinson alluded to the ball sticking as a main reason why the offense was struggling. Tonight when #Nuggets have tried to press them away from the perimeter they’ve been able to work the ball into the post for better looks. #DENvsBKN
— Anthony Rushing Jr. (@TonyRushingNY) February 7, 2019
Balanced offensive attack. The Nets finished with six players scoring at least 15 points. Russell led the way with 27 points. DeMarre Carroll added 18 points off the bench. Brooklyn’s bench outscored Denver’s reserves, 53-42.
Allen Crabbe looks healthy. He came off the bench, after missing the last 25 games with right knee soreness, and scored five points in 13 minutes of action. The Nets will likely take their time integrating Crabbe back into the rotation, but it’s a good sign he was moving well up and down the court. The Nets are starting to get healthy again. Caris LeVert could be next.
This was a feel-good win for the Nets, but there were some areas which will require improvement. Denver outscored the Nets in the fourth quarter, 43-27. Brooklyn needed each and every one of those 135 points to secure this victory. Jokic scored 14 of his team-high 25 points. He also grabbed seven of his 14 rebounds in the final quarter. Jokic is indeed the real deal. But overall, this team thrives on their ability to control the pace offensively, make three-point shots, and overall depth. Those three components are beginning to come together again for the Nets as the All-Star break approaches.
