The Nets blew one double-digit lead, solely to construct a second of their 121-104 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers on Monday.
The Nets led by as many as 19 factors within the first half, solely to give up that lead within the second when the Lakers used their physicality and well timed shot-making to take management. Los Angeles led by as many as seven earlier than the Nets started chipping away at their lead. They in the end took a 17-point lead within the fourth quarter and by no means let up.
LeBron James [left foot soreness] and Anthony Davis [right foot stress injury] sat on Monday night time, as did Kevin Durant [MCL], in addition to Ben Simmons [left knee soreness] and T.J. Warren [left shin contusion].
Head coach Jacque Vaughn stated he hopes each Warren and Simmons can be found for Wednesday’s matchup in opposition to the Boston Celtics.
“Yeah, just hopefully they’re ready for Wednesday,” he stated. “Both not going tonight so both showing signs of progress which is good. Hopeful for Wednesday.”
Kyrie Irving scored a game-high 26 factors on 7-of-16 taking pictures from the sphere, and Lakers guard Russell Westbrook posted 17 factors, 10 assists and eight rebounds off the bench.
Without a number of of the crew’s core rotation gamers, Vaughn leaned closely on his bench.
Nets second-year large man Day’Ron Sharpe was an important matchup for the physicality proven by Lakers beginning heart Thomas Bryant. Bryant, a Rochester native, scored a team-high 18 factors to go together with 9 rebounds.
Sharpe put up eight factors and 14 rebounds in his 21 minutes on the ground. It’s the primary time he outplayed beginning heart Nic Claxton all season. Claxton struggled and completed with six factors and 12 rebounds.
Reserve level guard Patty Mills got here off the bench and had his finest recreation of the season with 19 factors on 6-of-11 taking pictures from the sphere and four-of-seven taking pictures from downtown. It was a season-high scoring night time for the Australian guard who has fallen out of the rotation in favor Seth Curry, Cam Thomas and Edmond Sumner.
Vaughn stated it will be essential for the Nets to take benefit in transition. They scored 17 factors in transition to the Lakers’ six.
“[Scoring in transition] has been good for us to find the paint and spray out the shooters. I think you’ve seen our ability to shoot the three ball,” he stated pregame. “Can we continue to capitalize on that? Whether that’s early in the shot clock or because of the pace that we present that our drive and kick game produces quality shots from the three.”
The Lakers are worse with out James and Davis than the Nets have been with out Durant. The competitors will stiffen on Wednesday as they journey to Boston to tackle a Celtics crew with the NBA’s finest report.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com