Knicks confident struggling
After missing six straight games because of a lower back injury, Dennis Smith Jr. messed around and nearly recorded his fourth career triple-double on Saturday at Barclays Center, and he did it against one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference.
Smith was the Nets’ top bench contributor in a 129-101 win over Orlando. He finished with 10 points on 5-of-10 shooting, 11 rebounds, six assists, two steals and was plus-18 in 21 minutes – the fewest minutes played in a 10-point, 10 rebound and five assist effort in franchise history. He had not enjoyed a 10-rebound game since 2021.
Smith, 26, signed a one-year deal with the Nets last summer. The 6-foot-2 guard was a priority for the team in free agency.
“Rebounds, assists, steals, blocks, more than one way to skin a cat,” Smith said. “So I’m just trying to give my team whatever they need, be an energy guy and get wins.”
Saturday was arguably Smith’s strongest performance of the season at both ends of the court and he certainly received his flowers when it was over.
It was Smith — not Mikal Bridges who earned a postgame interview with YES Network sideline reporter Meghan Triplett. When asked how he was able to put together such an impressive game after missing extended time, he smirked, then dropped a viral gem. “I’m a savage,” Smith told Triplett.
Lower back injuries are no joke — just ask Ben Simmons. They inhibit an athlete’s ability to stay low, change direction and play explosively. The sharp pain and muscle spasms that accompany them can be unbearable. And if not treated properly, these types of injuries can be enough to sideline a player for months.
While the severity of Smith’s lower back sprain was never revealed, it was still enough to keep him off the court for six games. That is what made his production against Orlando so “savage.” He looked better than he did before the injury, a testament to the Nets’ training staff.
“You don’t miss six games and come back like that,” Smith said. “It was really because my wind (felt) so good… Our training staff helped me do that, so that’s a shout-out to them.”
Said Bridges, “It’s great. I was bugging him (on Saturday) when he’s eating like, ‘Are you playing today?’ He was laughing. He was like, ‘What, you miss me out there?’ Kinda wanted to boost him up a little bit. But for real, like I did, and just the things he does on that court. Just defensively, offensively to just being aggressive. And he just makes the game easier for everybody and contributes to winning. I wanted him here this summer when we signed him.”
Smith has averaged 6.2 points, 3.0 rebounds and 3.4 assists across 12 games this season while shooting just 41.1% from the field and 31.8% from 3-point range. Those numbers may not stand out much on paper, but the energy, athleticism and defensive versatility Smith offers the Nets is proving to be invaluable.
And Smith’s playmaking continues to improve as well. Saturday marked his sixth straight game with at least five assists. Spencer Dinwiddie was the only other Net to accomplish that feat since 2018-19.
“I’m going to add (savage) to my lingo also,” coach Jacque Vaughn said. “You just see it, you feel it. And you feel his presence, and whether that is him picking up full court, whether that is him getting his own offensive rebound and putting it back up as the smallest dude out there, whether that is him cheering for his teammates, and so we missed it and glad to have him back.”
Tom Thibodeau believes struggling Quentin Grimes will find his shooting stroke.
“It’ll come, and like I always say, there’s gonna be ups and downs,” Thibodeau said Monday. “I think the best way is to get some easy baskets. So like, you get a fast-break layup or you get an open three in transition, run the floor, move without the ball.”
After a hot shooting start to the season, Grimes’ efficiency has regressed. He is shooting below 35% from downtown and is in the middle of a noteworthy slump, having connected on just four of his last 20 attempts from downtown over the past six games.
Thibodeau displayed confidence in his starting two guard Monday.
“You don’t get here by accident,” he said. “This guy is already proven he’s a terrific shooter. So if you’re open shoot it, let it go. As long as he shoots it well, he’s on target, he’s back rim. Let it go.”
Julius Randle said he’s tried to give Grimes moral support during his slump.
“Continue to let him know that you as a teammate believe in him,” he said.
While Grimes has struggled, reserve guard Donte