Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from litmus-test loss to Pacers

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RODIONS KURUCS. A-. 34 MIN, 24 PTS, 6-for-11 (4-for-5), 8-for-10 FT, 3 REB, 4 PF, 1 STL, 1 BLK, -6. SF. Brooklyn Nets

So anyone who had Rodions Kurucs ever leading the Brooklyn Nets in points and minutes in a game just won their pool.

Kurucs had his best performance in a surprisingly good rookie campaign, scoring a team-high 24 points, hitting 4-of-5 from 3, getting to the free throw line and making plays on both ends.

He opened the game guarding Indiana Pacers All-NBA guard Victor Oladipo and as largely responsible for holding the All-Star to just six first-half points, helping the Nets at least stay within striking distance.

It was Kurucs’ 3-pointer with 3:05 to go that gave Brooklyn it’s last lead, as well. The kid came up cool in the clutch.

He even showed some wiggle at the 3-point line, dribbling with a jab step to force Bojan Bogdanovic to back off before stepping back, squaring up and knocking down a jumper from above the break. That was new.

The 40th overall pick in this year’s NBA Draft just continues to overachieve.

SPENCER DINWIDDIE. C+. 32 MIN, 15 PTS, 4-for-12 (1-for-5), 6-for-8 FT, 1 REB, 9 AST, 2 PF, 1 STL, 4 TO, -3. PG/SG. Brooklyn Nets

Spencer Dinwiddie had trouble Friday night finding those driving lanes he loves. He got himself to the foul line effectively, but his shot wasn’t falling.

While he had nine assists, he also turned the ball over four times, and had some difficulty covering Oladipo in the fourth quarter as the Indiana All-Star went off for 14 of his game-high 26 points to help the Pacers cross the finish line after Brooklyn battled back from a double-digit deficit.

It was still Dinwiddie’s 27th straight game off the bench with at least 10 points, but it won’t go down as one of his banner days.