Celtics

Nets dominate Warriors in D’Angelo Russell’s return

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A+

Final: 02/05/2020

W 129 – 88

The Brooklyn Nets made some history when they hosted the Golden State Warriors on Wednesday night at Barclays Center. It was the first game that D’Angelo Russell has played in the arena since he was traded last summer, and he received a warm welcome from the fans. His new team — not so much, as they were beaten handily from start to finish.

The game started with a Joe Harris layup, which Russell answered with a 13-foot mid-range shot. Tied 2-2, the game was never that close again. The Nets went on a 13-0 run and did not let up from that point forward.

Brooklyn dominated in every aspect of the game. Despite the fact that they turned the ball over more than the Warriors, outrebounding Golden State 65-34 was enough to make up for any sloppiness. It also helped that the Nets held the Warriors to 12.8 percent shooting from beyond the arc, the lowest mark in franchise history (with a minimum of 30 attempts).

It is difficult to criticize anything about this game because it was practically decided before the second quarter was over. A lot of the end-of-bench guys got to see playing time, but we should take those with a grain of salt against the league’s worst team.

Add it all together, and the Nets’ 41-point victory is the most lopsided win in Barclays Center history.

Russell finished the game with 17 points and a minus-48 plus-minus, the lowest on his team. This loss can not be put on him, however. The Warriors are not the team that he thought he was going to, just as the Nets did not expect to be four games under .500 at this point in their season. Injuries have riddled both rosters, and both are looking to fully compete next season with their star players healthy.

Check back in on this matchup next year, and it could potentially be a Finals preview.

Caris LeVert

A-

The stats: 23 PTS, 8-20 FG, 3-5 3PT, 4-4 FT, 4 REB, 8 AST, 4 TO, 27 MIN

Caris LeVert is back!

Alright, three good games may be a bit premature to make that statement — especially when you consider how he has performed so far over the course of the season. However, they have been impressive games.

The biggest positive to single out is the aggressiveness and confidence that is returning to LeVert’s game. If he can continue to cultivate that, the Nets will be able to continue to make up ground in the standings.

Joe Harris

A+

The stats: 17 PTS, 7-12 FG, 2-4 3PT, 1-1 FT, 9 REB, 1 AST, 1 STL, 1 TO, 22 MIN

Joe Harris is another player experiencing a resurgence in the past two weeks.

His efficiency is superb as usual, but the real value that Harris brings to a team is the small things. The tough screens he sets, his movement off the ball, and his strength in boxing-out are all large aspects of his game that do not necessarily show up in a box score.

Those are what he has been bringing back to the roster as he has played his way out of his funk.

Rodions Kurucs

B+

The stats: 12 PTS, 4-9 FG, 2-6 3PT, 2-2 FT, 5 REB, 0 TO, 27 MIN

Happy Birthday to Rodions Kurucs, who turned 22 years old today!

He tied for the most minutes played this game, although many of them did come near the end of the destruction. He impressed in those minutes, more so by what he was not doing versus what he was.

Kurucs was not trying to do too much — he was not wildly driving to the rim and throwing the ball away, and he was conscious of his skills and how he could use them to put the team in the best position to succeed. Sometimes less is more.

About the Author

Logan Gilchrist

Logan Gilchrist is a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln pursuing degrees in both political science and sports media & communication.

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