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Nets exit preseason with 113-107 victory over Knicks

Nets finish the preseason 2-2.

By Anthony Puccio
NBA: Preseason-Brooklyn Nets at New York Knicks Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

A common theme throughout the preseason has been Brooklyn’s good starts and poor endings. It almost happened, again, but the Nets prevailed in their final preseason game with a 113-107 victory over the New York Knicks on Friday.

Brooklyn’s offense was hot early. They scored 54 points in the first half and nailed six three-pointers in the second quarter. It was only a preview to the third quarter.

They began to pull away following a run in which they hit five consecutive three-pointers — one hit by the five players on the floor, including Jarrett Allen. The five consecutive three’s gave Brooklyn a 20-point lead, but the Knicks didn’t let up.

New York, led by their bench unit, went on a 17-7 run and cut the deficit down to six, but Spencer Dinwiddie knocked down a big three to silence the crowd. The Knicks continued to grind down the stretch, trimming the deficit to four, but Caris LeVert slammed home the dagger with less than five seconds left.

It was a balanced offensive attack with Russell leading the way. He finished with 18 points and seven assists. Dinwiddie had his best game of the preseason with 18 points while Joe Harris chipped in 16.

LeVert was the leader of the three-point party with four. The Nets as a whole nailed 15 on 37 attempts.

Treveon Graham (10 points) and Jared Dudley (11 points) both had their best games of the preseason with two 3-pointers each. Ed Davis did Ed Davis things with five points and eight rebounds in 20 minutes, while his mentee, Jarrett Allen, finished with 10 points and seven rebounds. Then there was Rodions Kurucs ... 10 points in 11 minutes.

For the Knicks, Tim Hardaway Jr. led the way with 18 points. Enes Kanter, who finished with 22 points and 20 rebounds in the last meeting, did not suit up. For the Nets, three starters missed the game: Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, DeMarre Carroll and Allen Crabbe.

“The ball popped,” said Kenny Atkinson. “The ball moved. Quick decisions. Everything we talk about. We missed a ton early and I thought they were good shots. I thought the ball movement was the best of the preseason. Our offense has struggled quite honestly, three out of four games, but I thought tonight we did a better job.”

“Take out the Toronto game and that was one we weren’t pleased with,” added Atkinson, “but overall for a new group I’ve been pleased with the way we played.”

”I think we’ve got a lot of guys out, so it’s hard to get a gauge on us collectively, but the guys that played I think we took a lot of steps forward,” said Russell. “Getting this win in a different atmosphere, different situation, I think that is something to build on.”

The two teams will meet again in the regular season on October 19 at Barclays Center. The Brooklyn Nets exit preseason with a 2-2 record.

Rodi deserves it:

Much like Jarrett Allen last year, most pundits (and fans) had Nets’ second-round pick Rodions Kurucs penciled in for a long season in Long Island this season. His play this preseason might tell us otherwise. Kurucs averaged 7.8 points and 4.5 rebounds on 55 percent shooting in 12 minutes per game. He ended on a high note with 10 and three rebounds in 12 minutes.

There are several forwards he’ll have to compete for minutes against — namely DeMarre Carroll, Kenneth Faried, Jared Dudley, Treveon Graham. He outplayed all of them this preseason and deserves a role on the open night roster.

Injury update:

“I’m very hopeful. Wishful. Ideal is everybody is 100 percent,” Atkinson said.

“That’s the plan,” Carroll told The Post. “We’ll see. Got to talk to the [trainers],” Crabbe added.

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The Nets will open up the regular season against the Detroit Pistons this Wednesday at 7:00 p.m.

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