Ain't No Win Streak Like a West Coast Win Streak
SUNDAY
Nets 112
Clippers 108
FINAL
WELCOME HOME!
In the absence of Kevin Durant, Coach Nash utilized the same line-up for the third time in the last four games. Jeff Green started in place of DeAndre Jordan and Bruce Brown again started in a three-man backcourt.
However, Green was forced to leave with just under three minutes left in the fourth quarter with an injury. He finished with five points on just 2/6 from the floor in 34 minutes. But productive reinforcement came courtesy of DeAndre Jordan who posted a double-double with 13 points, eleven rebounds, and four blocked shots in 32 minutes off the bench. It's DeAndre's third double-double and only the fourth time this season he has exceeded 30 minutes.
Coach Nash played a three-man bench in the boxscore, but only a two-man bench in any meaningful application. Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot was without a shot attempt while being limited to just six minutes. Meanwhile, Landry Shamet was a troublesome 1/7 from the field, all attempts from three-range, in 18 minutes.
The starting five averaged 37 minutes with Kyrie Irving and James Harden playing 40 and 41 minutes respectively. James Harden scored a game-high 38 points, his highest single-game output with the Nets and his second-highest mark this season, while also notching his 17th double-double through 18 games since his arrival in Flatbush. Kyrie Irving was 12/26 from the floor but only 2/11 from behind the arc. In fact, the Nets as a team were just 11/38 (28.9%) from three-range. Kyrie finished with 28 points and a team-high eight assists. He and Harden joined for 15 assists. Joe Harris was likewise somewhat off from the field, shooting 3/8 from three and 4/11 overall en route to 13 points.
Since receiving a reprimand from Coach Nash after a lethargic and futile effort against the Detroit Pistons and being told to look themselves in the mirror, the Nets are now winners of six in a row. They complete their five-game western trip with a perfect 5-0 record. In games against the Warriors, Kings, Suns, Lakers, and Clippers, the Nets averaged 123.8 points per game while allowing an average of 114.4 points per game for an impressive +9.4 differential.
The Nets triumphantly return to Flatbush for a three-game homestand against the Kings, Magic, and Mavs.
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