Celtics

Heroics from Harris, Dinwiddie edge Nets over Pacers

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Final: 02/10/2020

W 106 – 105

The Nets have fallen short this season, and Monday night looked to be no different. 

Brooklyn entered the matchup with the Pacers looking to slay its winless record on the road against teams above .500 this season. A meager third quarter seemed as if it would amount into a close loss as the Nets struggled to get stops. 

But they were hungry.

Joe Harris made two huge buckets, and Spencer Dinwiddie answered one final push from Domantas Sabonis with his biggest shot of the night.

It was the thrilling finish that Brooklyn needed after falling just short to the Raptors on Saturday. Despite a poor shooting performance (40.2 percent), a balanced scoring effort that saw eight (!) of Brooklyn’s nine active players reach double figures, a season-high, was enough to hand the Pacers their first six-game losing streak in three years.

Brooklyn led early on Monday night, but failed to capitalize beyond an eight-point cushion. Indiana eventually found its groove in the second half, going on an 11-1 run at the end of the third quarter that set the tone heading into the final frame.

As the Nets struggled to get stops, it became clear quickly — Brooklyn badly needed either Dinwiddie or Caris LeVert to get hot. It did not seem like the hero the Nets needed was on the way, though. Indiana led by as many as six points with under six minutes remaining in the game.

Brooklyn’s defensive intensity kicked in just in time down the stretch. When the Pacers took another lead, the Nets finally got a needed stop, followed up by a big-time bucket from Harris. 

The Pacers still had time to answer Harris and Dinwiddie’s late-game heroics, but Malcolm Brogdon came up short at the buzzer. 

Where the Nets were able to keep an edge throughout the night was at the foul line. While he struggled to shoot the ball, Dinwiddie continued to drive to the basket, keeping up his aggression and going 13-15 from the charity stripe.  

Strong paint presence from Jarrett Allen and DeAndre Jordan also gave the team a chance. Harris even chipped in with eight boards in the Nets’ 53-40 rebounding advantage.

Despite Indiana’s 58-38 edge in the paint, led by Sabonis (23), the Nets held the home team to just 7-30 shooting from three-point range. Brooklyn also committed 10 turnovers throughout the game, an impressive number even when compared to the Pacers’ six. 

The Nets needed a confidence booster, and Monday night was just what the doctor ordered. What could have been another gut-punch of a loss resulted in Brooklyn’s two All-Star participants stepping up when it mattered most and the team executing the gameplan in its best road win of the season.

One more game stands between Brooklyn and the All-Star break against the Raptors on Wednesday. A chance for revenge? Perhaps, but more importantly, a chance for Brooklyn to step up and add another one to the win column. 

With a confidence boost and a potential return from Kyrie Irving, anything is on the table. 

Spencer Dinwiddie

A

The stats: 21 PTS, 4-15 FG, 0-7 3PT, 13-15 FT, 6 REB, 11 AST, 1 BLK, 2 TO, 35 MIN

It’s never too late to find your shot. 

On a night both Dinwiddie and LeVert struggled from the field, the Nets needed just one big shot. Harris set it up, and Dinwiddie delivered the final blow. 

While he was cold from the field, Dinwiddie kept driving and shooting throughout the night at the free-throw line. Behind his near triple-double, Dinwiddie registered 20+ points and 10+ assists in consecutive games for the first time in his NBA career.

The Nets got their last-minute hero, and some momentum on their side.

Taurean Prince

A-

The stats: 14 PTS, 5-15 FG, 3-8 3PT, 1-2 FT, 3 REB, 1 BLK, 32 MIN

Taurean had the hot hand early, scoring 12 points in his first 12 minutes and stepping up at the right time. The Nets have needed him to be reliable in key moments, and he was a large reason for Brooklyn’s early rhythm. 

While Prince could have been more consistent from the field, the entire team struggled, and his contributions were enough early when he was called upon. 

Joe Harris

A+

The stats: 15 PTS, 5-12 FG, 4-7 3PT, 1-2 FT, 8 REB, 2 AST, 1 TO, 34 MIN

The Nets’ latest insider joke is our new favorite celebration. 

First-pump Joe was full of energy against the Pacers. We know he was clutch in the fourth quarter, but his eight rebounds cannot be understated, either. 

When Joey Buckets is activated, Brooklyn can catch teams off-guard. That is what happened down the stretch with Indiana, and strong defense from the Nets allowed Joe to thrive. 

Caris LeVert

B-

The stats: 11 PTS, 4-13 FG, 1-4 3PT, 2-3 FT, 2 REB, 3 AST, 2 STL, 1 BLK, 6 TO, 33 MIN

Coming off his season-high 37-point performance on Saturday, Caris was not at his best on Monday against the Pacers. Not only was his shooting hard on Brooklyn, but his six turnovers added fuel to Indiana’s fire. 

Still, LeVert helped make up for it with two steals and a block that immediately gave the Nets bursts of energy. A sprinting LeVert is a welcomed sight, and his shot also came back briefly to get the Nets back into the game down the stretch.

This was a down game from Caris compared to his recent hot stretch, but it would not be a surprise if he bounced right back for a 30-point game against the Raptors on Wednesday.

DeAndre Jordan

A-

The stats: 11 PTS, 5-7 FG, 1-2 FT, 19 REB, 2 BLK, 28 MIN

DJ was Brooklyn’s bench savior. 

Another double-double from the big man, including 19 (!) rebounds and four (!) offensive boards, gave the Nets a needed paint presence. Jarrett also combined in Brooklyn’s rebounding edge, a strength that showed itself throughout the game. 

DeAndre notched his seventh double-double off the bench this season, the most double-doubles off the bench in a season for a Net since Jamie Feick’s nine in 1999-00, per Nets PR. His reliability is something indispensable for the Nets as they look to make up ground in the East. 

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