POINT SCARRED
Nets lose another guard as Russell hurt in defeat
SALT LAKE CITY — The Nets’ point guard problems just hit DEFCON 1.
With Jeremy Lin out for the season and Spencer Dinwiddie missing time with a hamstring problem, D’Angelo Russell limped off the court with a knee injury late in Saturday’s 114-106 loss at Utah.
His importance is underscored by the fact they were outscored 24-10 when he wasn’t on the court.
Russell poured in 26 points to share game-high honors but injured himself on a drive to the basket. After making contact with a Jazz defender attempting to block his shot and an awkward landing, he immediately limped toward the Nets bench. The young guard was dispatched down the tunnel and into the locker room with what had the look of a hamstring injury.
With Lin already gone for the season with a torn patellar tendon, losing the 21-year-old Russell for any extended period would be catastrophic. His injury put a damper on a spirited comeback attempt that fell just short.
The Nets (5-8) had faced multiple 18-point deficits, including 67-49 with 9:23 left in the third quarter. They fought back to within 108104 on a pair of free throws by Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (19 points, six rebounds) with 1:23 remaining.
But after a Hollis-Jefferson miss and a turnover by forward DeMarre Carroll (15 points, seven boards), Elmsford native rookie Donovan Mitchell (26 points) hit a pair of free throws with 42.6 seconds to play. Mitchell then snatched an offensive rebound and made a putback to stretch Utah’s cushion to 112-104. The clock read 32 seconds left, but the game was done, and the Nets had lost.
After a 2-3 West Coast road swing, the Nets return to Brooklyn wondering just how hurt Russell is — and who the heck is going to get the ball across the timeline.
It was disappointing after Brooklyn coach Kenny Atkinson admitted he was curious to see how his team would handle a backto-back, the next step in their growth they need to take. They were game but ultimately defeated.
“Last time we had a backto-back we struggled. We looked really bad,” Russell said beforehand, referring to Tuesday’s loss in Denver. “So taking the challenge to capitalize on two in a row, on a back-to-back especially, it’s going to be tough to get one in Utah, but we’re definitely capable.”
They were close but not quite capable.