Pair’s debut gives needed jolt of energy

CLEVELAND — Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Shabazz Napier made their season debuts in Wednesday’s win. And even though Hollis-Jefferson came off the bench instead of starting at his usual power-forward spot, with their frontcourt injuries and lack of defensive pressure, the Nets will take all the help they can get.

“Shabazz is a guy that pressures the ball and gets after it,” coach Kenny Atkinson said. “He got that steal and went full-court. We haven’t seen that. He has a confidence about him. You feel it out there. This guy has played in big games.

“Rondae, for a guy who’s been out that long, was pretty darn good defensively. He made a few mistakes offensively, but he really helps our defense. We threw him out there at a point where we were switching everything. He can guard [Collin] Sexton or he can guard Kevin Love. Those guys are invaluable in today’s NBA.”

Back from a hamstring injury, Napier had eight points and two steals. After missing two games with an adductor injury and another for the birth of his son Rylen, Hollis-Jefferson added eight points and eight boards.

“It felt real good to get back out there and compete with my brothers. It’s a great feeling,” Hollis-Jefferson said. “My energy level was good; just making the simple plays defensively. Your rhythm offensively may not be there, you may miss some shots, but just keep rebounding, keep playing defense. I feel like I did a solid job.”

With Hollis-Jefferson working his way back in, Jared Dudley got another start for his floor spacing, ball movement and defense. All were on display as he hit 4-of-5 from deep and helped hold Love to nine shots and a game-low minus-21.

“When those shots go down it’s huge. It gives us floor spacing,” Atkinson said. “His leadership has just been a real boon to our spirit.”

Dudley, who’d been 2of-9 from deep, hit 3-of-3 in the game-changing 21-3 run. But he said he wasn’t worried about his shot and that slowing Love was job No. 1.

“I’ve been on other teams where they wouldn’t let me front, so I have to stay behind, and now they get 20 attempts at the glass,” Dudley said. “But they’re letting me front and not letting him catch the ball. It makes it a lot easier.”

Rodions Kurucs (ankle) isn’t on the trip and will be reevaluated when the Nets (2-2) return to Brooklyn.

The 86 points allowed were the fewest the Nets have given up on the road since Feb. 23, 2015, at Denver.