‘Careless’ turnovers frustrate Harden
As the Nets threw away the NBA’s longest winning streak, James Harden punched a chair.
Nineteen turnovers Saturday led to 32 points for the Mavericks and caused the Nets to look as sloppy with the basketball as they did at times before Harden arrived via trade. Only this time, Harden was primarily at fault, with a game-high six turnovers as he tried to feed teammates other than the injured trio of Kyrie Irving, Kevin Durant and Tyler Johnson.
“I played the same way,” Harden said. “I made outlet passes to Bruce [Brown] that I [normally] get, they were deflected. Dribbles to the basket, throw the ball out of bounds — myself, I did that. I wasn’t trying to do more than I normally do. I played my game, and sometimes you have bad games.”
Harden described his turnovers as “careless” examples of “trying to thread the needle.” During one second-half timeout, Harden, who scored only four of his 29 points after halftime, stood from his seat and knocked an empty chair to the ground with his fist.
“We had some careless turnovers for sure that led to run-out layups,” coach Steve Nash said. “That hurts. We’re only down four at the half and gave them 20 points off turnovers. That crushed us.”
The Spurs commit the fewest turnovers per game (11.1) in the league. So, there won’t be extra possessions in Monday’s game for the Nets (14.6) to make up for those given away.
“[The Mavericks] were aggressive on defense — jumping the passing lanes — and made us speed up a little bit and forced us to turn the ball over,” forward Jeff Green said. “In order for us to win, especially when we’ve got guys out, we’ve got to do better.”
➤ Irving (right shoulder maintenance) was not listed on Sunday’s injury report. Green (right shoulder contusion) did not play the final 15 minutes against the Mavericks and is listed as questionable against the Spurs. He missed one game last week. Johnson (migraine) is considered probable to return. Guard Timothe Luwawu-Cabarrot (right knee soreness) started Saturday but was added to the injury report as questionable.
PORT ST. LUCIE — The Mets are wasting no time in getting their first look at Francisco Lindor in a game.
The star shortstop, who was the big prize of the Mets’ strong offseason, is expected to be among the starters who will hit the road Monday to play in the club’s Grapefruit League opener against the Marlins at Roger Dean Stadium.
Manager Luis Rojas also said he anticipated having Pete Alonso, Brandon Nimmo and potentially J.D. Davis, Kevin Pillar and Jonathan Villar in action for the first of the Mets’ 24 spring exhibitions.
“We talked this morning about our identity and some of the things we’re going to establish from early in spring training,” Rojas said Sunday. “Lindor, a guy like Pillar that might be there as well, and the rest of the guys that are coming back, all those guys just watching each other performing out there, I’m really excited. I can’t wait to see the first pitch of the game [Monday].”
Right-hander Harol Gonzalez will start the game on the mound with Sean Reid-Foley, Ryley Gilliam, Trevor Hildenberger, Stephen Tarpley and Thomas Szapucki also set to pitch in the seven-inning game.
More than the results of his hitters and pitchers, though, Rojas indicated that he would be most focused on the Mets’ base running and defense, which have been heavily emphasized as areas of needed improvement during the week of full-squad workouts to open camp.
“I do want to see us being a better baserunning team, aggressive, going first to third, scoring on doubles from first, being aggressive, stealing, and being better at some areas that we haven’t been in the past,” Rojas said. “Also defensively, seeing guys get their experience at different
positions. Those are the goals I look at. Once again, I wish we win every game in camp. That’s the mentality of the guys as well, I know. It’s part of that, but we know there are also the priorities in play.”
As part of a revamped spring training schedule to limit travel, the Mets will play the Marlins and Nationals
six times each. But Rojas said the extra games against their NL East foes won’t make them adjust which arms are facing which teams, at least not yet.
“We’re really not thinking that [far] ahead right now,” Rojas said. “We want the guys to get their at-bats, we want the pitchers to get their innings and build up. We’re not thinking past that right now. We’re not overthinking it. If we get at some point that we think it’s going to be a competitive advantage, we can make a decision.”