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DENVER – In 12 games in this season, the Nets showed a clear growth in pressure on the Petri dish at the end of the games. In the first game, the emerging star Caris LeVert blamed himself for having a tying shot in the closing seconds.
But there was LeVert on Friday night at the isolated Pepsi Center against Nuggets defender Gary Harris, who bounced the ball calmly as time pbaded before taking his advantage over the clearance. LeVert overtook Harris, went up the hall and left the float with 0.3 seconds to play to give the Nets a 112-110 win over the tough Nuggets and extend their winning streak to three games.
It was LeVert's second win of the season, scoring a goal in the first home game against the Knicks, and he gave the Nets (6-6) a 3-2 record in games with a possession improvement over last season.
"I think that's his maturity," said Nets coach Kenny Atkinson. "I just think we are growing. We are aging a little. I will also salute our veterinarians. Even the end of the game, where Jared Dudley [inbounded]He took his time and handed it to Caris. Just a little trick like this maybe last year that we did not have it shows. "
Indeed it is the case. The Nets lost a 14-point lead in the second quarter and six points early in the fourth quarter with nine changes tied and eight changes early. They were mastered by the Nuggets 7-1 center, Nikola Jokic, who had 37 points and 21 rebounds. But the Nets never resigned and, with a tie tied at 110, Dudley forced a Jokic trip with 22.1 seconds to play.
"Jokic played all night," Dudley said of his brand inside. "All I was doing was to force him to go ahead. He did not stop centering to score the hook. So it was no longer a reading for me. He goes baseline, I pushed Jarrett a bit [Allen] in him a little. I do not know if it helped the trip, but we will take it. And Caris was Caris. "
Yes, Atkinson put the ball in LeVert's hands, as he usually does and was rewarded once again. When asked if he was surprised at how Harris found himself in his body, LeVert replied, "I thought he was going to go back at some point, but he sort of sorted all its resistance. I saw it and I just took it. "
Clearly, LeVert is becoming more comfortable with playing as the Net's main player, especially in isolation games. "I am very comfortable," LeVert said. "The coach trusts me with the ball in this situation to get the ball and everyone shies away. It's a great feeling to have a player. This is what you dream when you are a child. "
LeVert totaled 17 points and forced the Nuggets' Harris to a shootout of 1 to 11. Just as importantly, D'Angelo Harris played well at both ends, leading the Nets with 23 points and winning Jamal Murray from Nuggets (9-3) at 16, second-year center Allen was also huge for the Nets with 18 points. nine rebounds and five blocked shots.
Speaking of the fierce defense and concentration that the Nets have shown in the bottom right, Russell could not help but think of his turn earlier this season in New Orleans that led the Pelicans to hit the basket of winners. "We are fighting the whole game," said Russell. "It's hard to fall asleep to lose the game at the end of a mental mistake, and I think that as a group we realize it and try to limit those habits."
It looks like the Nets are developing winning habits.
Greg Logan has worked for Newsday since 1982 and covers a wide range of sports and events, including the Brooklyn Nets.
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