Brook-Lin was in full effect tonight! The Brooklyn Nets came out of the gates on fire tonight scoring 29 in the first ten minutes and looked as if they were on pace for yet another 120+ point effort, this time against the Atlanta Hawks. But things went sour for both teams as play went on, both suffered a massive cold streak. The two franchises combined for two field goals in the following eight minutes and the game slowed down considerably.

The Nets’ bench really struggled in this game after one of their strongest performances of the season. They were forcing shots early on and it didn’t get much better as the game progressed, not even for the red-hot Sean Kilpatrick or Trevor Booker, both of whom carried the Nets last night against the Orlando Magic. Thankfully, the starters — particularly Jeremy Lin and Brook Lopez — put the game on their back and carried the Nets to a victory over an aspiring playoff team.

While the Hawks have been slumping towards the season’s end, they’re still an incredible talent for the Nets to take down twice in a one-week span. Kenny Atkinson will be happy to defeat his former team for the second time this season, setting the Nets on a 9-10 record since March 1st.

It’s a slow march to respectability, but, dammit, the Nets are making it happen.

The Nets are now on their second win streak of the season but hopefully, this one lasts more than two games.

Brook Lopez

A+

The stats: 29 points, 12-21 FG, 3-7 3PT, 5 AST, 5 REB, 2 STL, 5 BLK

29-year-old Brook Lopez is the ultimate form of Brook Lopez.

Brook could do no wrong today: three-pointers, flip shots, playmaking, elite rim protection — you name it, he did it. The Nets were really struggling in this game with him off the court as the bench wasn’t living up to this season’s production. There was a stretch in the third quarter where it looked like every shot the Hawks put up, Brook was sending it back with authority. Lopez took it upon himself to shoulder the load on both sides of the court, and looked just about as unstoppable as a player can look for most of this game.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

B

The stats: 11 PTS, 4-8 FG, 2-2 3PT, 5 REB, 2 AST, 3 STL, 1 BLK

The Nets had one of their best defensive performances of the season and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson had a big part in that. He helped defend the paint alongside Brook Lopez and denied any entry into the post with his active hands. He also had his shot going with two three-pointers and a turnaround jump shot in the post.

Overall, it was a very solid performance from RHJ.