Brooklyn Nets: 3 things to watch as 2018-19 dawns in Detroit

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2. This time the challenge is real for Jarrett Allen

When the Brooklyn Nets visited the Detroit Pistons nine days ago, during the preseason, second-year Nets center Jarrett Allen was coming off being embarrassed by New York Knicks big man Enes Kanter in the preseason opener.

After Kanter ripped up the Nets for 22 points and 20 rebounds, there were concerns about how Allen — whose improvement over his rookie season had been hyped a lot up to that point — would fare against NBA rebounding leader Andre Drummond of Detroit.

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But Allen would have to have gotten the win by majority decision in the preseason battle.

Allen finished with 17 points, nine rebounds and four blocks in 33 minutes during Brooklyn’s 110-108 overtime win. Drummond ended with 14 points, 10 boards and four steals in 30 minutes, but was just 6-for-21 from the floor.

Overall, it was a strong preseason for Allen, who was the only Net who really showed up against the Raptors in Montreal on Oct. 10, scoring 24 points in the 118-91 loss.

Allen averaged 13.8 points, 6.8 rebounds and 2.0 blocks in four preseason games, while logging 26 minutes a game.

The 20-year-old showed good signs in the preseason, even while showing he’s still got areas that need to improve (decision-making with the basketball, boxing out on the defensive glass).

As Allen prepared to take on Drummond again, the stakes are definitely higher — this time it counts for real.