Because the Nets heated up over the previous two weeks, D’Angelo Russell went uncharacteristically chilly.
Within the six video games earlier than Wednesday’s, Russell shot 32.4% from the sphere and 22.5% from 3-point vary. He completed with 11 factors or fewer 4 instances.
However in Wednesday’s 100-96 win over the significantly short-handed Philadelphia 76ers at Barclays Heart, Russell returned to type.
Russell erupted for a team-high 22 factors, one shy of his greatest scoring effort since being reacquired by the Nets in late-December.
He shot 9-of-15 from the sphere and 3-of-7 from 3-point vary, main the Nets into the All-Star break with six wins of their final seven video games.
“Going into the All-Star break, a lack of focus can easily be an excuse,” Russell mentioned. “I just wanted to lead by example with my focus, and shots fell early.”
Russell started the sport in assault mode towards a 76ers crew that was with out Joel Embiid, Tyrese Maxey and Kyle Lowry as a consequence of accidents and that didn’t function Paul George all through a conspicuously quiet evening.
On the sport’s first possession, Russell completed a driving floater over Sixers level guard Jared Butler, a two-way participant who was pressed into his first begin of the season. Lower than 5 minutes later, Russell drilled a troublesome step-back 3-pointer over the outstretched arm of Quentin Grimes.
Russell started the sport 5-of-5 from the sphere and completed the primary quarter with 14 factors.
“They haven’t been falling, so that was just the cherry on top for me, to get some shots to go through,” Russell mentioned. “But the same shots I take, the same shots I believe I can make.”
Russell, who beforehand performed for the Nets from 2017-19, has embraced a management function since returning within the midseason commerce that despatched Dorian Finney-Smith to the Los Angeles Lakers.
His efficiency set the tone on an evening the Nets additionally acquired 18 factors from Trendon Watford; 16 factors from Cam Johnson; and 13 factors, 11 rebounds and 5 blocks from Nic Claxton.
“The guys were locked in, and they wanted to earn the [All-Star] break,” head coach Jordi Fernandez mentioned. “They were not on the break already, and I think they did a great job. … Right now, everybody deserves this time to enjoy family, friends and so forth, and then come back and be ready to work even harder.”
The Nets led by as many as 15 factors within the fourth quarter and by 10 with below a minute remaining. Three Brooklyn turnovers within the recreation’s last 34.1 seconds allowed the Sixers to chop the deficit to 4.
Nonetheless, Wednesday marked the sixth time within the final seven video games the Nets held an opponent below 100 factors. They entered Wednesday with the NBA’s greatest defensive score (103.6) and lowest opponent field-goal share (40.8%) within the earlier six video games.
With the Sixers removed from full energy, George delivered a significant dud, scoring solely two factors on 1-of-7 taking pictures. He went 0-of-5 from 3-point vary.
George — a nine-time All-Star within the first season of a four-year, $212 million contract — tried solely three pictures within the first half. His lone basket got here early within the third quarter.
Grimes, whom the Sixers acquired from the Dallas Mavericks earlier than final week’s commerce deadline, and Kelly Oubre scored 30 factors apiece to guide Philadelphia.
Wednesday was a far cry from the Sixers’ final go to to Barclays Heart on Jan. 4, when Embiid exploded for 28 factors, 12 rebounds and 6 assists in 29 minutes in Philadelphia’s 123-94 win.
Embiid missed Wednesday’s recreation for harm administration on his surgically repaired left knee. Maxey, in the meantime, was dominated out lower than two hours earlier than tip-off as a consequence of a proper knee contusion he suffered in Tuesday evening’s loss to the Toronto Raptors.
The Nets and 76ers, now each 20-34, are tied for the No. 11 seed within the Japanese Convention. With Wednesday’s win and the Tenth-seeded Chicago Bulls’ loss to the Detroit Pistons, the Nets are 1.5 video games out of the ultimate spot within the Play-In Event.
Johnson mentioned the Nets are “very” cognizant of their place within the standings with 28 video games to go.
“Just the excitement of competing, getting back into that Play-In picture, and if you make it that far, you give yourself a chance,” Johnson mentioned. “I think we were written off early. Our projected win total [of 18.5] was lower than what we have going into the break. It doesn’t mean we accomplished anything, but it means we’re trending in the right direction.”
Brooklyn has the subsequent eight days off earlier than internet hosting the East-leading Cleveland Cavaliers on Feb. 20.
Initially Printed: February 12, 2025 at 10:12 PM EST
