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Crabbe drops 41, Nets win third straight over Bulls, 114-105

By Anthony Puccio and Net Income

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NBA: Chicago Bulls at Brooklyn Nets Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

BROOKLYN, N.Y. — The Nets gave its fans a treat on Fan Appreciation Night. They finally won three games in a row this season – the first time since April 4 of last season!

It was a tight game throughout, but the Nets finished went on an 8-0 run late that ultimately won them the game, 114-105, in the final home game of the season. They finished 15-26 at Barclays Center.

Allen Crabbe scored a career high 41 points on 15 shots, the most efficient 40-point game in 18 years! In the NBA! He had eight 3-pointers, giving him 18 over the last three games and 196 for the year. He’s shot 52.9 percent from beyond the arc in the three games, 18-of-34.

Crabbe hit six 3-pointers in the first half and dropped 29 points, leading Brooklyn to a 62-55 lead at break. His 41 points was a career high and team high for the season, while his eight from beyond the arc tied a career high as well as a team high.

He’s the first Net to score 40 or more points since Bojan Bogdanovic in 2016, and it was the most points scored since Sean Kilpatrick dropped 37 in a double OT victory over the Clippers last season.

“I shook his hand after the game and it was still hot, still cooking. I thought his overall game was good, obviously started out hot and kept it going. He’s really finishing the season the way we’re asking the team to finish, on a strong night,” said Kenny Atkinson.

The Nets, once again, were scorching from the 3-point line with 10 at half. They hit a franchise record 24 total against the Bulls on Saturday. They hit 18 on Monday night, giving them a total of 61 over three. But it was still a close game late in the fourth.

Brooklyn had just a four-point lead with a little over three minutes left, but an alley-oop from D’Angelo Russell to Jarrett Allen sealed the deal with 2:16 left, Nets up eight.

Russell notched his fifth double-double of the season with 21 points, six rebounds, 11 assists and two steals. That total is more than he had in either of his two years in L.A. He turned the ball over five times, but his exquisite court vision was on display yet again.

Spencer Dinwiddie was the third Net over 20, with 20 points and seven assists.

“I try to pass the ball to whoever’s open,” said Russell. “Coach gives me that freedom. The more I’m here, the more the trust will slowly elevate but we got shot-makers around here. They make it easier for me so I appreciate my teammates for that,”

The Nets dished out 32 assists, which marks the first time they’ve recorded 30+ assists in three straight games since the 2005-06 season when they had Jason Kidd and Vince Carter in the backcourt. The ball movement has been spectacular of late and it was a big reason why they nailed 18 3-pointers on the night.

THE VERY EFFICIENT MR. CRABBE

According to the Nets PR staff, Crabbe’s 41 points on 15 shots were the most efficient 40-point game in the NBA since 2000.

The 15 shots from the field that Allen Crabbe needed to reach 40 points are the fewest for a player in a 40-point game since Alonzo Mourning attempted 14 shots en route to 43 points on 2/23/00 for Miami against the Nets.

And happy birthday, A.C.

‘WHO AM I’ CHAMP REVEALED!

In a tight battle, specifically against the reigning champ Sarah Kustok, Ryan Ruocco took home the ‘Who Am I’ trophy with one game remaining. His winning answer? Michael Grady!

FAN APPRECIATION NIGHT

Last home game of the season which means it’s Fan Appreciation Night at Barclays

A post shared by @APooch (@pooch_netsdaily) on

Then, this happened at half. Nice moment.

JARRETT ALLEN IN HEADY COMPANY

It may be small sample theater, but Jarrett Allen joined a list with some of the game’s big names Monday: Rookies in the last 20 years (since 1997-98) to block 4+ shots in 3 straight games:

—Jarrett Allen (2017-18)

—Yao Ming (2002-03)

—Kenyon Martin (2000-01)

—Lamar Odom (1999-00) and

—Tim Duncan (1997-98)

Even Big Jay was impressed...

NETS WIN, CAVALIERS LOSS

Things can change but going into the last two days of the season, the Nets pick in the 2018 Draft, which many in Cleveland thought could be overall No. 1, looks like it will be a lot lower. As of Tuesday morning, the Nets pick is No. 9, going into the May 15 Lottery. It still could wind up a high pick, but odds are against it.

If the pick stays at No. 9, the Cavs will have a 2.2 percent chance at the overall No. 1 pick and only 7.9 percent of a top three pick. That’s a lot worse odds than if the (lowly) Nets had finished with the league’s worst record. In that case, it would have been odds of 25 percent overall of the No. 1 and 64 percent of the top three.

***

The Nets will play their last game against the Boston Celtics on Wednesday. If they win — the Celtics could be resting a number of players— it will be their longest winning streak since April 2015, when they won six straight. And they’d take that streak into next season. They’re now 28-53 and finished the season 15-26 at Barclays Center.

For a different perspective go to Blog-a-Bull.

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