Mills, Nets spoil Lakers’ Christmas night miracle
There’s a new king of the NBA, and it’s not the team in Los Angeles.
The Nets crowned themselves championship favorites with a dominant, yet thrilling 122-115 matchup over LeBron James and Russell Wesbtrook’s Lakers on Christmas night.
Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving and LaMarcus Aldridge missed the game in the health and safety protocols, as did each of the Nets’ four rookies, but the Nets still delivered a signature performance to punctuate the holiday season.
Make no mistake:
The Nets still have a long way to go before rounding into championship form, especially if they’re incorporating Irving, who has yet to play a game this season, into road games in the New Year.
But even still, the Nets were head-and-shoulders better than the Lakers on Saturday. James Harden led the way with 36 points, 10 assists and 10 rebounds for his fifth triple double since joining the Nets last season, and Patty Mills rained in eight threes on 13 attempts for 34 points of his own.
The Christmas Night victory was impressive for a number of reasons, chief among them the time the Nets have spent off the floor.
The omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus hit the Nets particularly hard during the leaguewide outbreak: 13 players entered the health and safety protocols during December.
The Nets haven’t been able to fulfill the eight-player minimum requirement for players in a game since Dec. 18, and Saturday marked their first game back on the floor since enough players exited the protocols.
Nets coach Steve Nash worried a bit about rust entering the game, but it was a non-issue against the Lakers.
“It’s not easy to play after a week off,” Nash said. “I thought we were competitive and stuck to the game plan for the most part.”
The Nets defense held the Lakers to just 41.7% shooting from the field and 28.6% shooting from three as a team. James scored a game-high 39 points and dished seven assists, but the Nets kept Russell Westbrook in check: Harden’s old teammate shot just 4-of-20 from the field and missed all three of his attempts from downtown.
Meanwhile, Mills saved the day. He was a game-high plus-19 in his minutes on the floor and hit timely threes to help keep the Lakers at bay. It was a game of runs, and the Nets responded each time. They scored 38 in the first period, and the Lakers responded with 39 in the second. And when the Nets scored 36 in the third, Los Angeles went on a 15-0 run to start the fourth.
Mills was steady throughout it all, and hit a huge three to give the Nets a 115-110 lead at the 1:36 mark of the fourth quarter.
“We don’t win tonight without him,” Nash said of Mills.
The Nets will stay in Los Angeles before facing the Clippers on Tuesday. The Clippers are without both All-Stars Paul George and Kawhi Leonard. George is out indefinitely with a torn ligament in his elbow.
NO SETBACK FOR ALDRIDGE
Aldridge is expected to clear the health and safety protocols soon and rejoin the team. League rules say a player spends no more than 10 days in the protocols, and Saturday marked Day 11 after he entered the protocols on Dec. 14.
Despite Aldridge’s health history – he retired last season due to a heart condition – Nash said the veteran All-Star big man has not had any setbacks.
“I don’t think he’s having any issues, I think if I’m not mistaken he’s either out or about to be out,” Nash said. “It’s just a matter of ramping him up accordingly. It has been an extended absence, and we just want to make sure that he’s right. So we’re not in a rush with LA.”