Brooklyn Nets: Player grades from believable comeback win at Orlando
By Phil Watson
PG/SG. Brooklyn Nets. SPENCER DINWIDDIE. B. 27 MIN, 20 PTS, 6-for-11 (3-for-7), 5-for-7 FT, 2 REB, 3 AST, 1 PF, 4 TO, +4
Spencer Dinwiddie once again saved his best for last, converting a crucial four-point play to give the Brooklyn Nets the lead in the final minute, while scoring 18 of his 20 points after halftime.
As important as D’Angelo Russell’s scoring outburst was in keeping the Nets in the game in the second quarter, Dinwiddie’s 11 third-quarter points were nearly as big.
Dinwiddie has made the adjustments to additional defensive presence over the last two games, scoring 53 points on the two-game road trip.
His ball-handling got a little rugged at times, with four turnovers, but he also helped the Brooklyn bench to a 52-34 advantage in the game.
B. 26 MIN, 6 PTS, 2-for-6, 2-for-3 FT, 10 REB (1 ORB), 2 AST, 3 PF, 1 STL, 1 TO, 4 BLK, +5. C. Brooklyn Nets. JARRETT ALLEN
Jarrett Allen is reaching a new level defensively, a level in which he makes a big impact on games even when he doesn’t score a lot.
That was never more evident than in the fourth quarter, when he helped contain Nikola Vucevic on the defensive end, blocking one attempt and altering others, while also confidently taking on smaller players on the perimeter after switches.
Allen’s fourth-quarter impact was enormous, all at the defensive end as he didn’t attempt a shot in the closing moments.
He finished with four blocks — the second straight game in which he swatted four shots — and is averaging 11.6 points, 10.4 rebounds and 2.5 blocks over his last 11 games.