Fragile work on the glass costly

The Nets’ rebounding — or lack thereof — remains a “big concern,” coach Kenny Atkinson said Saturday, especially considering what’s coming next.

After being outrebounded, 55-34, in Friday’s loss to the Knicks and allowing 19 offensive boards, the Nets will be in for another test Sunday when the Nuggets and Nikola Jokic come to town. The Nuggets are fifth in the NBA in total rebounding, with the 6-foot-10 Jokic averaging 11.2 per game.

“We have a long way to go,” Atkinson said. “Against a really good offensive rebounding team like Denver, we’re going to be tested [Sunday]. We talked about it [Saturday]. Let’s see if we can rectify it.”

Atkinson said it has to be a collective effort with guards chipping in. DeMarre Carroll and Timofey Mozgov led the Nets with five rebounds apiece against the Knicks, but Nets guards combined for just eight boards.

“Some guys are stronger and bigger, but at the end of the day, it’s about who wants it more,” forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson said. “The bigs box out, and then the guards come in and help out. You can make the case sometimes that the bigs miss blockouts. We put the blame on us, too.”

➤ Quincy Acy has lived beyond the 3-point line early in the season. Coming off the bench, the forward has attempted 23 field goals, 21 from beyond the arc. The results have been solid, with Acy draining 11 of his 21 3point attempts. He matched a career-high with four made 3s Friday.

Though the sample size is small, the numbers are a boost for Acy, who entered the year averaging 0.8 3pointers attempted per game and a 36.6 shooting percentage from beyond the arc.

“He shoots it so well,” Atkinson said. “We need his shooting as a big. That being said, I don’t want him just to live on those [3s], feast on that. I want to see him do the other things.”