Nets vs. Grizzlies: Brooklyn Heads to Memphis After Going Deep for Wins

Nets coming off win over Sixers led by LeVert and Harris

Posted: Jan 08, 2021

The Brooklyn Nets have had their depth tested this week, and they’ve answered the challenge with consecutive wins over Utah and Philadelphia going into Friday night’s game in Memphis.

After reshuffling the starting lineup and rotations without Kevin Durant against the Jazz, Nets head coach Steve Nash found his team without Kyrie Irving and Tyler Johnson as well against the Sixers.

“I think we’re such a, I keep saying, we’re so young as far as our time together, and so fresh and so new, that each day is an opportunity for us to get to know each other better, to get better collectively, and so I don’t know that it sends a message,” said Nash after the win against Philadelphia. “The message is for the whole group that when we play connected and we have that fighting spirit we give ourselves a great chance every night, no matter who’s available. Just proud of the guys for continuing to push the envelope there. They played well start to finish, did so many things well, but the most important thing is just the way they approached the game, their spirit and their collectivity. This is a tough league, but if you bring that every night, you’ve got a chance no matter who you play.”

After starting 155 straight games since late in the 2017-18 season, Joe Harris has come off the bench the last two games, and Thursday night he led the Nets with a season-high 28 points while making 6-of-9 3-pointers.

“Joe’s a stud. He’s an NBA starter,” said Nash. “We’re just experimenting. Kevin out with a quarantine, mixing it up, looking at different lineups, seeing different people play together. Joe Harris is outstanding. He’s going to play a lot of minutes every night, whether he starts or doesn’t start. Right now, we’re having a look at this machination of our team, and I’m sure we’ll look at a lot of others. As you’ve seen, Kevin’s got a quarantine, Tyler Johnson’s got a quarantine, we’ve already lost Spencer (Dinwiddie). So lots of things are going to happen. We’re going to see lots of different lineups. When it is so new to everyone, I think now’s the time to try some of these things, have a look at different lineups. Simply, that’s all it is.”

BALL MOVEMENT

The Nets had 31 assists against Utah and 30 against Philadelphia this week.

“I feel like we did a great job moving the ball,” said Caris LeVert. “I don’t really feel like that has anything to do with those guys (Irving and Durant) though. I think tonight we’re kind of more used to playing with each other. Those guys have played with each other for a while now so we kind of know things a little bit better. So, the ball moved a little bit better tonight and hopefully we can keep that up tomorrow against the Grizzlies.”

LeVert had 10 assists while making his second start of the season, and the Nets were plus-23 with him on the floor against the Sixers. In his two starts this season, LeVert is averaging 25.0 points and 10.5 assists.

“I think that, obviously, the two games I’ve started Kevin and Ky haven’t played so there’s more opportunity out there,” said LeVert. “More shots, just more touches. That definitely has a big part of it. And then, you, know, the season just started. I feel like myself along with other guys are still finding our rhythm out there, and it will get better as the season continues for sure.”

BACK ON THE BOARDS

Rebounding was an issue for Brooklyn during a stretch in which the Nets lost four of five, particularly giving up offensive rebounds and second-chance points. But in back-to-back games against two teams ranked in the top five in the NBA in rebounding percentage — and featuring two of the top five individual rebounders in Utah’s Rudy Gobert and Philadelphia’s Joel Embiid — the Nets outrebounded both in a pair of wins.

Jarrett Allen has double-figure rebounds in seven of Brooklyn’s nine games this season, and he and DeAndre Jordan both had 11 rebounds each in Thursday’s win over the Sixers.

“The rebounding is going to be a collective effort,” said Steve Nash. “It was fantastic again, and we’ve got to continue that. That's got to be something that we're on guard and watching over all year and taking pride in and gang rebounding. So it's great to see it, but this isn't like we're solved, we’re a great rebounding team. That's something we’ve got to prove every night the rest of the year.”

DURANT POSSIBLE FOR SUNDAY

While Kevin Durant will miss his third straight game due to health and safety protocols when the Nets play Memphis on Friday, Steve Nash said before Thursday’s game against Philadelphia that it was possible he would return against Oklahoma City on Sunday.

“I think Kevin’s situation is that if he continues to test negative he can play Sunday,” said Nash. “That’s all I have on that. But hopefully, can’t wait for Sunday to come.”

Tyler Johnson also missed Thursday’s game due to health and safety protocols, though Nash said he had not tested positive for the coronavirus. Kyrie Irving missed Thursday’s game for personal reasons.

ABOUT THE GRIZZLIES

Memphis is without Ja Morant, who injured his ankle in the overtime win in Brooklyn on Dec. 28, and the Grizzlies are 1-4 since and 2-6 overall. Jaren Jackson Jr. and Justise Winslow have yet to play for the Grizzlies this season. Memphis is 26th in both field goal percentage (43.9) and 3-point percentage (33.0), and Grizzlies aren’t getting extra points at the line either, ranking 30th in both free throws made and attempts. With Morant out, Dillon Brooks has been the top scorer, averaging 16.9 points per game. In the 116-111 win in Brooklyn, Brooks scored 24 points, Kyle Anderson had 28, and Jonas Valanciunas scored 14 with 14 rebounds.

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Game between the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets played on Sun December 13th 2020. The Nets beat the Wizards 119 to 114. Kyrie Irving led the scoring with 18 points, Spencer Dinwiddie led in assists with 7 assists, and DeAndre Jordan led by grabbing 7 rebounds.

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Game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics played on Fri December 18th 2020. The Nets beat the Celtics 113 to 89. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 25 points, DeAndre Jordan led in assists with 5 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

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Game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Boston Celtics played on Fri December 25th 2020. The Nets beat the Celtics 123 to 95. Kyrie Irving led the scoring with 37 points, Kyrie Irving led in assists with 8 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

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Game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Charlotte Hornets played on Sun December 27th 2020. The Hornets beat the Nets 106 to 104. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 29 points, Kyrie Irving led in assists with 6 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 14 rebounds.

SundaySun Dec 27 Spectrum Center, Charlotte, NC

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Game between the Memphis Grizzlies and the Brooklyn Nets played on Mon December 28th 2020. The Grizzlies beat the Nets 116 to 111. Caris LeVert led the scoring with 28 points, Caris LeVert led in assists with 11 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 15 rebounds.

MondayMon Dec 28 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

L 111-116OT1

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Game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets played on Wed December 30th 2020. The Nets beat the Hawks 145 to 141. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 33 points, Kevin Durant led in assists with 8 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 13 rebounds.

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Game between the Atlanta Hawks and the Brooklyn Nets played on Fri January 1st 2021. The Hawks beat the Nets 114 to 96. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 28 points, Kevin Durant led in assists with 4 assists, and Kyrie Irving led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

FridayFri Jan 01 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

L 96-114

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K. Durant
28PTS
K. Irving
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4ASTS

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Game between the Washington Wizards and the Brooklyn Nets played on Sun January 3rd 2021. The Wizards beat the Nets 123 to 122. Kyrie Irving led the scoring with 30 points, Kyrie Irving led in assists with 10 assists, and Kevin Durant led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

SundaySun Jan 03 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

L 122-123

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K. Irving
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Game between the Utah Jazz and the Brooklyn Nets played on Tue January 5th 2021. The Nets beat the Jazz 130 to 96. Kyrie Irving led the scoring with 29 points, Tyler Johnson led in assists with 7 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 18 rebounds.

TuesdayTue Jan 05 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

W 130-96

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18RBS
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Game between the Philadelphia 76ers and the Brooklyn Nets played on Thu January 7th 2021. The Nets beat the 76ers 122 to 109. Joe Harris led the scoring with 28 points, Caris LeVert led in assists with 10 assists, and Jarrett Allen led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

ThursdayThu Jan 07 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

W 122-109

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J. Harris
28PTS
J. Allen
11RBS
C. LeVert
10ASTS

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Game between the Brooklyn Nets and the Memphis Grizzlies played on Fri January 8th 2021. The Grizzlies beat the Nets 115 to 110. Caris LeVert led the scoring with 43 points, Jarrett Allen led in assists with 6 assists, and Jeff Green led by grabbing 9 rebounds.

FridayFri Jan 08 FedExForum, Memphis, TN

L 110-115

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Game between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Brooklyn Nets played on Sun January 10th 2021. The Thunder beat the Nets 129 to 116. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 36 points, Caris LeVert led in assists with 6 assists, and Kevin Durant led by grabbing 11 rebounds.

SundaySun Jan 10 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

L 116-129

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K. Durant
36PTS
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11RBS
C. LeVert
6ASTS

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Game between the Denver Nuggets and the Brooklyn Nets played on Tue January 12th 2021. The Nets beat the Nuggets 122 to 116. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 34 points, Kevin Durant led in assists with 13 assists, and Kevin Durant led by grabbing 9 rebounds.

TuesdayTue Jan 12 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

W 122-116

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34PTS
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9RBS
K. Durant
13ASTS

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Game between the Brooklyn Nets and the New York Knicks played on Wed January 13th 2021. The Nets beat the Knicks 116 to 109. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 26 points, Chris Chiozza led in assists with 7 assists, and Bruce Brown led by grabbing 14 rebounds.

WednesdayWed Jan 13 Madison Square Garden, New York, NY

W 116-109

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K. Durant
26PTS
B. Brown
14RBS
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7ASTS

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Game between the Orlando Magic and the Brooklyn Nets played on Sat January 16th 2021. The Nets beat the Magic 122 to 115. Kevin Durant led the scoring with 42 points, James Harden led in assists with 14 assists, and James Harden led by grabbing 12 rebounds.

SaturdaySat Jan 16 Barclays Center, Brooklyn, NY

W 122-115

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K. Durant
42PTS
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12RBS
J. Harden
14ASTS

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Game between the Sacramento Kings and the Brooklyn Nets on Tue February 23rd 2021 at 7:30pm EST at Barclays Center Brooklyn, NY. Watch the game on YES Network or listen to the game on WFAN.

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