Not to be denied
DeMarre’s dominant effort propels Nets on night of Russell’s return
In his first game in two months, D’Angelo Russell was the man of the night for the Nets.
But with the performance of his career, DeMarre Carroll was the star of the game.
Making his return following right knee surgery, Russell came off the bench to help spur a comeback in the third quarter. Then Carroll took over in the fourth, making winning plays late in a slump-busting 101-95 victory Friday night over the Heat before 17,732 at Barclays Center.
The Nets broke a 91-all tie by closing on a 10-4 run to snap a three-game losing streak, and a five-game skid at home. The victory marked Russell’s first action since getting hurt on Nov. 11. Despite Russell’s quiet 14-minute stint (one point, two assists), they ensured it was a triumphant one, led by 26 points from Carroll, which tied his career high.
“We made plays, but more importantly we got stops. We really locked down defensively. That’s a good team, a top 4 team in the East. They’re playing really well,” Nets coach Kenny Atkinson said. “We struggled big-time in the first half, did not look great. But we held them to 16 points in that third quarter. That changed the game.
“[Russell was] obviously rusty, which is normal. His second [half ] he was much better. You could see he got in rhythm. He’s got a feel as a quarterback, as a point guard of getting guys shots.”
Russell made his debut with 4:28 left in the first quarter to loud applause from a crowd that hadn’t seen him on the Barclays court since Halloween night. He looked predictably timid, feeling his way, more foal than racehorse. But in the third he started to look a little more like himself, and led a spirited comeback.
“Great. That was the main test, so getting the opportunity to go out there and be with my teammates again was great,” Russell said. “Limited minutes, but it was great, just being out there in general. All numbers aside, I don’t know how you want to put it, but just being out there was really my main focus.
“Yeah [I was rusty]. I mean I feel like everything is still there, but definitely not being able to play the last few games, you’re going to feel like that.”
The Nets, who trailed 69-53 with just under six minutes left in the third quarter and seemed on the verge of getting blown out, went to the bench for Russell. He checked in with 4:18 left in the third and the Heat up 69-55 and promptly helped spark a 12-0 run to end the quarter. The Nets harassed the Heat (26-19) into 11 straight misses, climbing within two going into the fourth.
The Nets still trailed 84-81 mid- way through the fourth, but Carroll went on a personal 8-2 run, his 3-pointer lifting Brooklyn back into the lead, 89-86. It was tied 91-all with two minutes left before the Nets made the plays to win it.
Spencer Dinwiddie (15 points, six assists) drove for a dunk that gave the Nets the lead for good. Then Caris LeVert rebounded a Wayne Ellington miss and penetrated for an acrobatic finish and 95-91 edge. When Ellington missed on an alley-oop, LeVert’s jumper extended the lead to six with 34.6 seconds left.
“Defensively is what got us going. D’Angelo was real vocal when he came in like in the third quarter, when he came in I think that is when the run started,” said LeVert, who had 12 points. “He was just telling us stop by stop, just get a stop. Easy baskets. And that kind of sparked the run.”