Celtics

Balanced Nets Take Down Hornets With Unselfish Play

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A

Final: 04/16/2021

W 130 – 115

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Screenshot via YES

When Joe Harris has it going, good things happen.

Joey Buckets led the team with 26 points as the Nets pulled away from the Hornets for a 130-115 victory at home on Friday. The result brings Brooklyn 20 wins above .500 this season. 

Friday’s game was a slow burn for the Nets as the Hornets built as large as a 14-point lead in the first half. An undermanned Charlotte team shot 53% from the field as it came out with more energy than Brooklyn from the jump.

The game was tied at 82 with four minutes to go in the third quarter, but the Nets went on to out-score the Hornets in the 48-33 to close it out as their unselfishness was on display. Brooklyn registered 35 assists of 47 made field goals as it shot 55.3% from the field and led by as many as 19 points. 

A big energy boost for Brooklyn came from the bench unit, which matched the Hornets’ intensity and out-scored Charlotte’s bench 49-16. That was partly thanks to Landry Shamet, who matched Joe with six made three-pointers on the night.

The second unit also brought great defensive energy as it helped limit Charlotte to 12-of-34 shooting from three. Brooklyn also generated 21 points off 19 forced Hornet turnovers.

The big story of the night for Brooklyn was its scorching three-point shooting as it shot 21-of-41 from distance. The Nets did turn the ball over 18 times, but the Hornets scored just 14 points off them.

Miles Bridges led the way for the Hornets with 33 points while Terry Rozier added 27 points and 10 assists. 

Joe, Kevin Durant and Landry Shamet combined for 71 points in a strong offensive night. Brooklyn’s offensive depth was on display as the team inches toward full health.

Next up: A meeting with the Heat on Sunday.

Joe Harris

A

The stats: 26 PTS, 8-12 FG, 6-9 3PT, 4-4 FT, 2 REB, 1 AST, 3 STL, 2 TO, 29 MIN

That’s leading-scorer Joe Harris, to you. 

Joe was in need of a big night after a tough game against the 76ers and rose to the occasion. He was nearly unstoppable from three — well, really from anywhere.

The offense was free-flowing against the Hornets after the first quarter, and Joe benefitted with some great looks. Joe can still be the best scorer on the floor for the Nets, and he reminded us of that on Friday. 

Kevin Durant

A

The stats: 25 PTS, 8-12 FG, 3-5 3PT, 6-6 FT, 3 REB, 11 AST, 1 BLK, 4 TO, 30 MIN

KD was at the forefront of Brooklyn’s ball-sharing momentum.

KD started the game as the facilitator and progressed by putting his offense first, creating his shot and showing off his bag of tricks. His ease was on display yet again as he was efficient and let the game come to him.

Brooklyn missed KD on Wednesday, and he was an instant difference-maker against the Hornets. It’s not often he drops a points-assists double-double, which shows just how well the lineup was meshing. 

Landry Shamet

A-

The stats: 20 PTS, 7-14 FG, 6-11 3PT, 1 AST, 1 STL, 2 TO, 21 MIN

Landry Shamet’s scoring surge continues. 

Landry put up his fifth double-digit scoring performance in his last six games and his second 20-point game of the season. He missed a few more threes than Joe did, but he was a big part of Brooklyn’s second unit forming momentum following the slow start.

Landry was a team-high +25 on the night. He is turning into one of Brooklyn’s most consistent and reliable players on a nightly basis.

 

Kyrie Irving

B

The stats: 12 PTS, 5-11 FG, 2-7 3PT, 4 REB, 6 AST, 3 STL, 5 TO, 33 MIN

It was a quiet night for Kyrie offensively, but he still had his classic moments.

Kyrie did not have to put up the points with Joe and Landry stepping up from the three-point line. He did work with assists and steals, though struggled a bit with taking care of the ball.

The beauty of Brooklyn’s lineup is that the stars can take turns having big nights. It was an off night for Kyrie, but he got involved defensively and got buckets when the time came. 

Blake Griffin

B+

The stats: 10 PTS, 3-5 FG, 1-1 3PT, 3-4 FT, 5 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 21 MIN

Blake did a bit of everything.

Blake was all over the place, from taking charges to making threes. Blake has been with the Nets for about five weeks and already leads the team in charges with seven.

Blake just looks like he’s having fun when he’s playing, and he brings a great energy. He played a big part in Brooklyn’s secondary unit matching Charlotte’s intensity and flipping the script in the second half. 

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