The Brooklyn Nets and D’Angelo Russell made a statement with a 115-110 win over LeBron James and the Los Angeles Lakers at Barclays Center—extending their winning streak to six games.
It was the D-LO show on Tuesday night with a 22 points and 13 assists performance as the Nets continue to dig themselves out of the eight game losing streak that put them in a panic.
It started early with an 11 point first quarter by Russell against the team who drafted him with the second overall pick in the 2015 NBA Draft.
Maybe it was a revenge game from Russell who was run out of Los Angeles before the 2016-17 season. Maybe its just “natural progression” as Kenny Atkinson believes. Whatever it was Russell looked like a star against his former team.
“I put a lot of work into my craft, and coach gives me that leash to put me in a situation where I could make plays,” said Russell about his own progress. “I feel like in this league, there’s not more you can ask for.”
“He’s taken a step forward from last season,” added Atkinson. “He’s obviously a very talented guy, and we love the progress we’re seeing so far.”
His progress and talent hasn’t gone unnoticed outside of Brooklyn either.
“He’s a talented player, and we know that. When we forced him right and we were up shocking the ball I thought we did a pretty good job on him. When we let him dance and get to his left, he hurt us” said Lakers head coach Luke Walton after the game.
“Give him credit. He had a big-time game tonight. That’s why this team (Brooklyn) has won six games in a row,” continued Walton.
The Nets (14-18) again put up another high scoring first half with a 62-57 lead while shooting 50 percent from the field and three point range.
Up 67-65 with 9:20 left in the third the Nets went on 12-0 run giving them a comfortable 14 point lead. The run started with a Harris three pointer, continued with a pump-fake layup by Russell that awed the crowd and ended with a Hollis-Jefferson three-point play.
But it was a game of runs and the Lakers eventually cut the lead 90-83 before entering the fourth quarter.
The Nets started the final period with a 10-2 run taking a 100-87 lead, before yet another Lakers run.
With a 104-102 lead and King James ready to take the spotlight, the Nets found themselves controlling the moment, something they have failed at doing for most of the season.
Like much of the rest of the game Brooklyn found a way to stop the bleeding and this time it was Joe Harris (17) and Jared Dudley who made a couple of driving layups to take a 108-102 lead.
With the Lakers ready to complete their comeback it was Russell who put a dagger in their hopes with a huge 25 foot shot to give the Nets a 113-107 lead.
From that point in the Nets never looked back.
Spencer Dinwiddie added 18 points and off the bench, Joe Rondae Hollis-Jefferson finished the game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. In total the Nets had six players in double figures and a team total of 27 assists.
The Nets also showed tremendous effort on the defensive end—specifically in their transition defense.
Coming into their matchup against Brooklyn the Lakers are second in the league in transition points, averaging 20.6 points a game when they are off and running. The Net we’re focused defensively holding them to 12 points in the transition.
More importantly they were extremely careful with the ball limiting their turnovers to just four on the night, preventing the Lakers from getting their run and gun offense going.
Jarrett Allen also contributed with 6 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks, the stats may not show how important he was at keeping Los Angeles from getting comfortable in the paint, where they average 56 points per game.
But nothing bigger than his block on LeBron during a ferocious dunk attempt. It was the ninth time in his 16 year career he was blocked. It was also his 1,850 dunk attempt according to ESPN.
For Allen it was a chance to show LeBron and the rest of the NBA he owns the paint in Brooklyn.
“It’s LeBron (James), so I had to go up with some extra emphasis, and then I ended up getting it,” said Allen on his highlight block against LeBron. “My quote growing up, either way you’re going to be on the highlight.”
Though LeBron, who finished the night with 36 points, 13 rebounds and 8 assists, didn’t seem to think the block was a big deal.
“When you’re a shot blocker, I’m sure you can get a block. It happens, LeBron told the media. “It’s probably all over social media so, that’s cool.”
It definitely was all over social media, and will probably be one of the best highlights of the season.
Kyle Kuzma added 22 points and 11 rebounds and Lonzo Ball contributed with 23 points and 6 assists before fouling out for the Lakers(18-13).
The Brooklyn Nets six game winning streak is currently the longest in the NBA and their best since 2014-15, which was also the last time Brooklyn was in the playoffs.
“I did not know that,” said Harris after the game. “That is a little surprising, especially when you go from losing eight in a row to now having the longest one.”
They will have a chance to extend it to seven games on wednesday night against the Chicago Bulls, however the Nets have not had a great record on the second night of back to back games with a 1-5 record this season.
