Collins back in Brooklyn with pride

The Nets held their first Pride Night on Wednesday, with on-court entertainment and prominent members and allies of the LGBTQ community holding a pregame panel titled “Spread Diversity and Inclusion, it’s the Brooklyn Way.”

Among those included in the panel were former Net Jason Collins, the NBA’s first openly gay player, and the event’s organizer, Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment’s CMO Elisa Padilla, who helped transform the New Jersey Nets into the Brooklyn Nets, and who recently came out as well.

“This is great,’’ Collins told The Post. “It’s amazing to see the Nets do an event like this and celebrate diversity. When you think about Brooklyn you think of diversity. … It’s really cool to celebrate all the people here in the community. … I’m honored that the Nets asked for me to attend.

“It’s important for as many people come together to raise awareness for certain issues come together and speak out against the language of hate.” Shooting guard Joe Harris (ankle) missed the Nets’ 109-106 loss to the Heat with a sprained ankle, but just got his boot off earlier Wednesday. He’s making progress and will go on the upcoming three-game trip to Cleveland, Minnesota and Miami.

“It’s good. I had a boot for the first few days and I just got out of it,’’ Harris told The Post. “Definitely, I’m hoping to get back here pretty soon, but obviously the performance staff, they’re not trying to rush anything.”

Brook Lopez’s seven 3pointers were a career high, bettering the five he made at Chicago on Dec. 28, and were the most by any Net since Bojan Bogdanovic went 7of-10 last April 13 against the Raptors.

The Nets’ 18-point lead (89-71) through three quarters was their second-biggest going into the fourth quarter this season.