The Nets’ loss to the Charlotte Hornets was the start of a very difficult week for Brooklyn. The next day, the Nets found out they’d have to move forward without Spencer Dinwiddie after he was diagnosed with a partially torn ACL. After receiving the news about the guard, the Nets went 1-3. Then Brooklyn found out on Monday that Kevin Durant will miss at least four games as he serves out his quarantine, per the NBA’s COVID-19 health and safety protocols.
Yet, somehow, the Nets pulled out a huge win over the Utah Jazz, despite the fact the starting five of Kyrie Irving, Bruce Brown, Taurean Prince, Jeff Green and Jarrett Allen had never played together as a unit until Tuesday.
Maybe it had something to do with the message Durant sent to all of his Nets teammates after he found out about his quarantine.
“Kev texted us an said, ‘Next man up,'” Brown said on a Zoom call with reporters after Tuesday’s win. “We’re all ready. We all know, when our time comes, we’re gonna be ready. People took the challenge tonight to step up and play well, and we did that.”
Sure seems like Durant’s message worked.
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