Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from thorough victory at Chicago
By Phil Watson
A. 33 MIN, 28 PTS, 10-for-19 (6-for-14), 2-for-2 FT, 4 REB, 5 AST, 2 PF, 1 STL, 2 TO, +18. PG. Brooklyn Nets. D'ANGELO RUSSELL
D’Angelo Russell put together another terrific performance, scoring 20 or more points for the fourth straight game.
He’s averaging 26.5 points over that span and on Sunday gave the Brooklyn Nets what they needed when the Chicago Bulls opted to blitz nearly every ball screen.
Russell found open areas and knocked down shots, but still popped the ball around well enough to log five assists.
The four straight games with at least 20 points matches the longest streak of Russell’s career and the recent hot spell has moved him slightly past injured Caris LeVert for the team scoring lead this season — both are averaging 18.4 points per game, but LeVert’s is rounded up from 18.35.
Throw in the team-leading 6.4 assists a night and a newfound engagement at the defensive end and Russell is having a heckuva year so far.
A. 31 MIN, 20 PTS, 7-for-12 (3-for-8), 3-for-4 FT, 4 REB (3 ORB), 4 AST, 1 PF, 1 STL, +10. SF/PF. Brooklyn Nets. DEMARRE CARROLL
DeMarre Carroll continued to be white-hot, dropping 20 points for the second straight game, as he looks locked in after some initial struggles adjusting to a reserve role.
Over his last six games, Carroll is averaging 17.3 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.7 assists in 29.7 minutes per game on 54.1 percent shooting overall and 47.2 percent from 3-point range. That’s sizzling hot.
He spent the last five seasons with the Atlanta Hawks, Toronto Raptors and Brooklyn Nets as a starter, but has exclusively worked off the bench since returning in early November from surgery on his right ankle.
Carroll spent some time adapting to the new role. He’s there now, though.
For the season, Carroll is up to 10.5 points and 4.9 rebounds in 24.2 minutes a game in the 30 games he’s appeared, with his shooting up to 39.9 percent overall and 35 percent from deep.
His recent scoring outburst is making the already-potent Nets bench unit even stronger, as they’ve outscored opponents’ reserves 158-54 during their current three-game winning streak.