Every win is important in the NBA, but with Brooklyn’s slow start to the 2019-20 season, there’s an extra sense of urgency for the Nets.
Things didn’t get easier when they lost Caris LeVert due to the damaged ligaments in his right thumb, which led to surgery. Then pull Kyrie Irving out of the lineup for three games (right shoulder impingement) and the Nets have all hands on deck.
Spencer Dinwiddie has been the one constant for the Nets during this stretch, which was part of the problem for Brooklyn on Monday. In the two wins — Chicago Bulls on Saturday and Charlotte Hornets on Wednesday — multiple Nets have stepped up.
On Wednesday, Taurean Prince (20 points and eight rebounds), DeAndre Jordan (14 points and seven rebounds) and, most of all, Jarrett Allen (22 points and 17 rebounds) played well, in addition to Dinwiddie (20 points, eight assists).
Following the win, Allen expressed Brooklyn’s approach without Irving and LeVert to YES Network’s Michael Grady:
It’s been a slow process. Ya know, having Caris and Kyrie out, it’s a little tough. But at the end of the day, it’s next man up and we’ show that tonight.
Additionally, the Nets have talked about both their chemistry and energy as being problems to start the season. Allen told Grady the Nets were able to address one of those issues.
Consistent energy. We came out in the third quarter, playing hard, and we took it to the fourth.
"It's a huge win!" – @_bigjayy_#NETSonYES pic.twitter.com/A9JVlXDmUv
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) November 21, 2019