Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from dramatic win over Hornets
By Phil Watson
Brooklyn Nets. JOE HARRIS. A. 41 MIN, 27 PTS, 11-for-14 (5-for-8), 6 REB (2 ORB), 2 AST, 2 PF, 1 STL, 2 TO, +8. SG/SF
Joe Harris continues to quietly go about the business of being perhaps the NBA’s hottest shooter once again.
After a sizzling October, Harris came back to earth a bit in November, but has picked things back up in 11 December games, shooting 54.5 percent overall and a ridiculous 55.4 percent from 3-point range in 11 games.
He’s now hit at least three 3s in seven straight games and is averaging 13.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 2.5 assists in 30.2 minutes per game on the season, shooting 50.9 percent overall and 47.7 percent — second-best in the NBA — from deep.
Throw in an 82.7 percent mark at the line and you’ve got a heck of a season in progress.
Harris did a little of everything Wednesday night. He shot insanely well, had a huge offensive rebound late in regulation that eventually set up one of his two game-tying 3s in the closing moments and scored the game-winner on a three-quarter court drive and layup.
If Brooklyn keeps winning, the rest of the league might notice just how well Harris is rolling.
RODIONS KURUCS. B+. 39 MIN, 13 PTS, 6-for-9 (1-for-3), 12 REB (2 ORB), 3 AST, 5 PF, 3 STL, 3 TO, 1 BLK, +5. SF. Brooklyn Nets
Save for a couple of turnovers in overtime caused by youthful exuberance and a lack of patience, Rodions Kurucs was once again the picture of efficiency.
In his eighth NBA start and 19th NBA game overall, Kurucs posted his second straight double-double, grabbing a career-high 12 rebounds and making heady play after heady play.
The last three weeks have been a meteoric rise for Kurucs, from buried-on-the-bench second-round pick to a likely participant in the Rising Stars Challenge during All-Star Weekend in February.
Coach Kenny Atkinson keeps entrusting Kurucs with difficult defensive assignments and the kid keeps delivering, matching his career-high with three steals and adding a blocked shot on a very surprised Tony Parker.
Atkinson keeps saying that Kurucs is making it tough for him to think about removing him from the starting group once Allen Crabbe is available again. At this point, there might be rioting on Fifth and Atlantic if Atkinson were to do that.