featured-image

Lopez, Ellington Lead Nets vs. Fenerbahce

Basketball was back in Brooklyn on Monday night as the Nets opened the 2015 preseason with a matchup against Fenerbahce Istanbul. Playing against Bojan Bogdanovic’s former team, the Nets fell 96-101 at Barclays Center.

“It was exciting to be out there,” said Brook Lopez, who ended up with 18 points and 4 rebounds in just over 23 minutes of play. “We obviously learned what we do well, what we need to work on tomorrow at practice and going forward.”

Lopez reiterated this was the team’s first game together as a solid squad with only five practices under their belt, but expressed a positive outlook moving forward.

“It’s just a matter of taking advantage of what strengths we have, and we happen to be young, athletic and a high-energy group,” he said. “So we’ve got to learn to play that way.”

Brooklyn’s fresh faces made a big impact in tonight’s game with Thomas Robinson recording a double-double with 12 points and a game-high 16 rebounds (nine offensive) in 26 minutes in his first game as a Net.

Nearly half of Brooklyn’s points (47 of 96) were scored by players who weren’t on the Nets last season, led by Wayne Ellington (16 points) and Robinson (12 points).

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson also chipped in six points off the bench in his first pro game and Ellington buried 6-of-10 from the field, including 4-of-7 from 3-point range in 31 minutes off the bench.

“I don’t think it will be a big adjustment,” Joe Johnson said speaking to media after the game.

“I think, mainly, with us playing a lot through Brook (Lopez), just pushing the basketball and trying to make plays, we just have to continue that,” he said.

The Nets return to action on Thursday at Detroit and return to Barclays Center on October 14 vs. Boston.