Getty Images LeBron James of the Los Angeles Lakers.
In a game that featured All-Stars Ben Simmons, Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving, the Brooklyn Nets got a boost from an unlikely source, and LeBron James took notice.
A huge performance from Seth Curry lifted the Nets to a 111-97 win over the Portland Trail Blazers on November 27. Curry scored 29 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, and his 7-of-10 shooting performance from beyond the arc moved him to the highest all-time 3-point percentage among active players, per Stat Muse.
“Man Seth Curry so NICE!!!!” James tweeted on November 27.
Man Seth Curry so NICE!!!!
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Jacque Vaughan Sounds Off on Nets Homestand
The Nets’ win over the Blazers followed a disappointing 128-117 loss to the Indiana Pacers on November 25. The Nets are 10-11 on the season and have, for the most part, been as mediocre as their record reflects. There have been off-the-court factors — including Kyrie Irving’s suspension and injuries to Joe Harris and Curry — but ultimately, when it has come down to winning time, the Nets have not been able to get things done when it mattered the most.
Amid a seven-game homestand, Nets head coach Jacque Vaughan said they have an opportunity to string together some wins if they don’t fall into the trap of getting lax.
“I’ll get back to that quintessential word: winning. We’ve got to win ballgames. We should have won the Indiana game,” Vaughn told reporters. “Go on back, watch the film. Have seven turnovers in the fourth quarter. Have our group out there the majority of the time that started the game. Have defensive breakdowns like we did to end the game. Lose our poise and composure like we did at the end of the game.”
“Can’t happen. Just because we’re at home, some of those same problems could arise. How we respond to it is key,” he said, according to NetsDaily. “We talked about this should be a good homestand for us. We get a chance to sleep in our own beds, play on our own court, have our own fans behind us, but you’ve got to take care of our business, and the goal is to win every single game we play.”
Kevin Durant Credits Nets Defense
The defense has been an Achilles heel for the Nets for the better part of the last three seasons, and it has clearly improved. Brooklyn has held two of their last three opponents to under 100 points.
Though it was big performances from him and Curry that ultimately earned the Nets a necessary win over the Blazers, Durant had high praise for Brooklyn’s defense after the game.
“We got stops,” Durant told reporters. “[Portland] were shooting 50% for a while in the first half. Our defense came to play in the second half, 40 points in the second half. I mean, it’s the second quarter really. They had 24, 23, and 17 in three out of the four quarters so the defense won this game for us. It’s a make-or-miss league. It’s about baskets.”
The Nets can get to .500 with a win in their next game, November 28 against the Orlando Magic.
Seth Curry off the bench:
29 PTS
7-10 3P
Highest all-time 3P% among active players.
