After losing yet another thrilling game in Summer League, the Brooklyn Nets were looking for redemption against the New Orleans Pelicans. This game was the second half of a back-to-back for the Nets, but they had no problem stealing the win.

The Nets were ice cold to begin the game, missing their first three treys and falling to an early 6-0 deficit. Caris LeVert must’ve felt the pressure from all seven of his missed three-point attempts in the prior game, as well as The Brooklyn Game’s tweet, because he then hit the Nets’ first basket and three of the game.

A major reason for the Nets’ success in the first quarter stemmed from their ability to share the ball, with seven Nets popping up on the scoreboard. Brooklyn finished with six assists in the period, opposed to the Pelicans’ lone one. The Nets also closed the quarter on a 19-4 run, and had twice as many points as the Pelicans after one quarter, 24-12!

Brooklyn faltered a bit at the beginning of the second quarter, committing three turnovers in the first three minutes. Disclaimer: Kenny Atkinson did not approve of this. However, the Nets quickly regained command of the game after a couple of buckets apiece from LeVert and Archie Goodwin sparked a 9-0 run. (On the subject of how many times Brooklyn had exactly double the amount of points as New Orleans in the second, I counted three: 38-19, 42-21 and 44-22.) An already-comfortable lead for the Nets ballooned to 24 (!) points, 51-27, at the end of the first half.

It was no contest for the Nets the rest of the way, with bucket after bucket coming easily for the boys from Brooklyn. For a Monday and the second game of a back-to-back, that ain’t bad at all. Hope that cures your Monday blues.

Player Grades

Jeremy Senglin: A

14 PTS, 5-10 FG, 3-7 3PT, 3 REB, 1 AST

Senglin makes his debut on Game Grades, and for good reason. He was the only non-“veteran” to finish in double figures, displaying a hot hand from distance. I know the Nets’ roster is already guard-heavy, but did someone say shooter?

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson

A

The stats: 11 PTS, 5-8 FG, 0-0 3PT, 8 REB

Rondae displayed a lot more aggression inside, whether it was on the glass, or in the paint for some buckets. Nothing from long range, but that shot is looking good.

Caris LeVert

A

The stats: 17 PTS, 6-12 FG, 2-6 3PT, 8 REB, 2 AST

LeVert continued to show why he’s one of the Nets’ most important centerpieces. He finished as the Nets’ second-highest scorer, and at some points during the game, his minutes total matched his point total. The stud also looked more comfortable from behind the arc, knocking down two of his five attempts in this game, after missing all seven of his attempts against the Bucks on Sunday. Never lose faith in L3V3rt.