Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from uneven showing against Timberwolves

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PG. Brooklyn Nets. D'ANGELO RUSSELL. D. 26 MIN, 5 PTS, 2-for-10 (0-for-6), 3 REB, 5 AST, 1 PF, 4 TO, -2

With the lanes to the basket clogged, D’Angelo Russell struggled and couldn’t make the outside shots needed to loosen up the Minnesota defense.

He finished with a team-high four turnovers, scored a season-low five points, didn’t make a 3-pointer and struggled against Jeff Teague and Derrick Rose at the defensive end.

Russell is being looked to as the player to step up in the absence of Caris Levert and he had a three-game stretch recently where he did just that, but the struggle has been real for Russell in his last two games.

If the Nets are to get out of a skid that has seen them lose six of their last eight games, Russell has to turn it around.

B-. 23 MIN, 13 PTS, 3-for-9 (2-for-5), 7 REB (1 ORB), 2 AST, 2 PF, 2 TO, -10. SF. Brooklyn Nets. DEMARRE CARROLL

DeMarre Carroll led the Nets with seven rebounds on Friday, a game in which Jarrett Allen didn’t board well and Ed Davis was limited by a sprained ankle.

But his season-long shooting struggles continued. In nine games this season since returning from surgery on his right ankle, Carroll is shooting just .313/.303/.875 and is averaging 8.7 points and 4.6 rebounds in 20.5 minutes per game.

If it weren’t for his veteran savvy in getting himself to the foul line, however, he’d be having trouble finding ways to score at all.