3 Nets players who are proving they can take burden off Kevin Durant
![NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 16: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during their game at Barclays Center on December 16, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) NEW YORK, NEW YORK - DECEMBER 16: Kevin Durant #7 of the Brooklyn Nets celebrates a shot against the Philadelphia 76ers during their game at Barclays Center on December 16, 2021 in New York City. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/2bbed06b7a6e5cc69024406bf2be86e35f4a038c8136f1263d0fa09fb59b1562.jpg)
1. Patty Mills
The Nets did themselves a huge favor by snagging Patty Mills off the free agency market during the offseason. The 33-year-old was expected to come off the bench for Brooklyn, but he’s found his way to the starting lineup.
Mills is averaging 13.3 points per game and is shooting 44.9% from the 3-point line, the most and best for him since he played in 10 games and shot 50% from long for Portland during his first season in the league.
In last Tuesday’s win over the Raptors, he scored a season-high 30 points and shot 10-of-20 from the floor and 7-of-14 from the 3-point line. When the Nets were down 120-117, Mills nailed a 3-pointer with a little over 12 seconds left to play to force overtime.
.@Patty_Mills FORCES OT 🔥🔥🔥 pic.twitter.com/9PpZNZ8pyS
— Brooklyn Nets (@BrooklynNets) December 15, 2021
Durant finished with a triple-double on Tuesday, but it was Mills who made the biggest shot of the night. He’s performed well as a starter, but if Irving comes back, he’ll be bumped back down to the second unit. That won’t be a bad thing, considering he’s been in the running for the sixth man of the year race more than once.
He’s already proven that he’s a legitimate scorer for the Nets, but imagine him coming off the bench and hitting daggers in the playoffs.
With Harris out, Mills has been a threat from deep. He’s stepped up into an unexpected role and has done well. Brooklyn has been operating with a “next man up” mentality, and Mills exemplifies that.